Caring, enthusiast, inspirational, kind and an all-around great guy.

There doesn't appear to be enough adjectives to describe how beloved Richmond's Lorne Bodin was.

Tragically, the 50-year-old Mathew McNair's vice principal lost his battle with stomach cancer on Saturday, Jan. 5.

Bodin leaves behind his wife Jan, teenage daughter Kerri and a large community of friends, colleagues and students who will dearly miss a man everyone said had a passion for life and teaching.

"We will dearly miss his kindness, patience and enthusiasm for life," said Rose Sebellin, principal at McNair. "There was not a more caring and genuine person than Lorne ... he was lovely."

Sebellin went on to say that Bodin always put his students first and called him "a consummate educator."

"As an educator, Lorne has left us with a wonderful example to follow," said Sebellin, adding Bodin was set to replace her as principal when his health changed for the worse.

Those sentiments were echoed in the dozens of Facebook comments left by his students, colleagues and friends.

In March 2009, The News covered Bodin's Ride to Conquer Cancer, a two-day cycle from Vancouver to Seattle in memory of a friend who lost her battle with the disease.

At the time, Bodin had no idea he would battle his own cancer someday.

To encourage his students to make $5 donations to his Ride to Conquer Cancer, Bodin offered up four winners a chance to style his hair -- shaving his head to raise more money for cancer awareness and research.

That was Bodin, said Jason Leslie, his close longtime friend and J.N. Burnett secondary vice principal.

"Lorne was always trying to find ways to help people," said Leslie. "I met him 10 years ago and we soon became good friends."

Leslie said there is so much he will miss about his brave buddy.

"I will miss the way Lorne carried himself with dignity," he said. "I will also miss the way Lorne could find laughter in any situation.

"But then again, Lorne left such a strong legacy ... he impacted so many lives, and we who are left behind will try to carry ourselves in a way he would be proud of."

Although well known as an avid sportsman -- Bodin loved cycling and was an accomplished hockey goalie -- first and foremost, said Leslie, he was a family man.

"Lorne was a wonderful dad to Kerri, coaching both her volleyball and softball teams when she was younger, and he was a devoted husband to Jan," added Leslie. "He led an exemplary life."

If anything frustrated Bodin, it was his inability to fight his cancer.

In April 2010, he was diagnosed with stomach cancer. His doctors told Bodin he had an aggressive form of the disease and they didn't hold much hope of survival, giving Bodin only a year to live.

Bodin still fought, undergoing several rounds of chemotherapy, but sadly on Dec. 27 he was admitted to Richmond Hospital's palliative care unit.

"Lorne was incredibly healthy and fit, so cancer just didn't make sense, it defied logic," Leslie said. "Lorne was also a fighter and when he wasn't able to eat and the energy was sucked out of him, he was frustrated."

There will be a Celebration of Bodin's Life on Saturday, Jan. 22 beginning at 3 p.m. at McNair secondary, 9500 No. 4 Rd. Everyone is invited to attend.

Here's a small sample of what his students wrote on Bodin's Facebook wall:

z "Mr. Bodin did this (Ride to Conquer Cancer) to help others, even before he knew he had it himself. Don't let his efforts go in vain."

z "I know his passing has affected all of us to an extent. All I can say is that at least he isn't suffering anymore ... he's living healthily and happily in our hearts, souls ..."