Colin Webber dies age 75

Benonian Colin Roy Webber died on April 23 at the age of 75.

Colin taught geography at Benoni High School from 1971 to 1982, taught geography at Wordsworth High School from 1983 to 1997 and was the deputy principal of the school before returning to Benoni High from 1998 to 2012 to teach mathematics.

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He retired in 2012.

According to his daughter, Megan Webber, Colin also worked at Claude’s Outfitters in Benoni as a university student and at His Image in the Benoni Plaza, until the early 2000s.

She described her dad as kind and generous.

“He had a wicked sense of humour and always kept us entertained.

“My dad loved children – so aside from the four of us, he was also a ‘dad’ to his learners at school.

“He was a talented classical singer and loved to express his creativity in his hobbies.”

Colin was diagnosed with stage four melanoma cancer at the end of March.

“My dad had a double aortic replacement in 2010 and spent 42 days in ICU. He was given a one per cent chance of survival,” Megan said.

“His recovery was a miracle and we had 10 bonus years with him, which were perhaps the best.

“He died pain-free and peacefully at home with my mom by his side.”

She added that Colin’s favourite place in the world was the Orpen Camp in the Kruger National Park, as one of his passions (apart from teaching) was wildlife.

“Our best times together were the many school holidays spent as a family at Orpen or in Durban.

“Our worst times were the journeys to our holidays because there was always one or two inevitable spank stops along the way – four children in a car for a long journey was fertile ground for bickering and the odd fight,” Megan said.

Margeret Webber, Colin’s wife, said: “I had known my husband for close to 60 years.

“We married in 1972 and have always been best friends. Our friendship and love created a strong bond which kept us together for 48 years.”

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Throughout their lives, there was one thing the Webbers were always sure of: that dad loved them unconditionally, said Megan.

“He will be sorely missed, especially for his loving nature, wise counsel and endless jokes.

“I would like to end with some words that my dad loved, from John Denver’s song Rhymes and Reasons: ‘For the children and the flowers are my sisters and my brothers, their laughter and their loveliness could clear a cloudy day’.”

A requiem mass was held for Colin at St Patrick’s Catholic Church on April 28.

He is survived by Margaret, his four children, Megan, Bronwyn Dooley, Craig and Mark, as well as his six grandchildren, Harry Webber, Matthew Dooley, Andersen Webber, Nadia Anika, Jessica Dooley and Selma Webber.