It's been a year since Nanaimo lost one of it's true Neighbourhood Heroes, a hero to the dozens or more likely hundreds of kids he coached in baseball, hockey, soccer and football over the years.

He coached his two daughters as they progressed through various sports and he coached his son from tee ball to the Premier Pirates.

Last week Mike Castle nominated Bruce McFarland as today's Neighbourhood Hero and suggested I call Dan Rogers, Bruce's close friend, fellow coach and firefighter to find out more about him.

"We did everything together," Dan told me, "we coached together, we worked together, we played together and our families were, and still are, very close."

Dan went on to describe his good friend as crude, loud and the life of the party, someone who loved to have a good time ... and someone who had a heart of gold, someone who would do anything for his friends.

"As a firefighter he was a hard working guy who was fearless, knew his job well and gave back to his community both through his career and his volunteer time. And as a man he was absolutely bluntly honest. Whether he offended people or not, he said what was on his mind ... and that's one of the things I liked most about him.

"Even though he came across as this rough, tough guy," Dan continued, "he had a soft spot for anyone in need whether they were old, young or in between and although some adults didn't quite know how to take him, the kids he coached adored him. They saw right through his hard exterior and they could see how much he cared about them and how hard he tried to help them."

As our conversation came to an end, I could hear the joy in Dan's heart when he told me that Bruce's son, Charlie, phones him almost every week from Kentucky where he is playing ball. He was obviously extremely proud and happy to be able to take over, at least in part, the father role that Bruce would have played.

Tragedy stuck Bruce and his wife, Arlene, about ten years ago when their daughter, Carla, was severely injured in an accident. She has been living at Dufferin Place, part of the Nanaimo Regional General Hospital, ever since.

A friend of mine works at Dufferin Place and I remember her telling me stories about Bruce just after he passed away last year. She went on at great length to describe him as an extremely dedicated parent and a special friend to all of the residents and staff in the facility.

"He was always finding ways to help others," she told me, "and every Christmas he would take residents out in his vehicle to see the Christmas lights around the city."

When we lose someone like Bruce McFarland, the natural tendency is to look back at his life and think about the heartbreaking loss we have all suffered but should we not instead celebrate the powerful role model he has been, and always will be, for his family, his fellow firefighters, his neighbours and of course the hundreds of kids he coached over the years, kids who will no doubt pass on the same gifts and strengths he gave them to yet another generation of children and their families in the years to come.

Some of us only need fifty years or less to make a major difference in this world. Bruce McFarland was one of those people.