Former hockey writer Jack Falla, 62, passed away due to a heart attack this weekend in Maine while away with some of his close family members. 

Personally, I was fortunate enough to have Jack as a professor at Boston University. He explained in the first day of class that his sole plan was to get all of his students jobs or internships in order to become "the godfather of the sports world," as he would say.

I never viewed Jack as my professor or a well-known former writer for Sports Illustrated, just simply a friend who liked to talk sports. He always had an open ear whenever someone even mentioned hockey and he treated everyone from hockey experts to new fans with the same respect.

When I finally worked up the courage to tell Jack that I was a loyal Bruins fan, his face lit up. To think that a former leading sports writer had time to talk to me, a lowly college student, about a team we both loved boggled my mind. I told all my friends of my conversations with Jack as if I was a celebrity in the making. I found myself e-mailing Jack all the time, wondering about his opinions on Bruins topics or even simply how his wife and backyard rink were doing. That was the kind of guy Jack was; you just wanted to keep talking to him about anything and everything.

In a world where inflated egos and skewed visions of self worth are becoming more prevalent, Jack Falla set a standard for humility and kindness not only in a professional sense, but in a personal and universal way, as well.

He has touched more lives than one can imagine and will be sorely missed. Rest in peace, Jack. Lord knows they need a good goalie up there.