Beloved Brisbane Boys’ College teacher dies after long illness

A veteran teacher at one of Brisbane’s top boys’ schools has been remembered as an outstanding educator who inspired love and respect.

Beloved Brisbane Boys’ College maths teacher Chicri Maksoud died yesterday after battling a long illness, the Toowong private school’s Old Collegians Association announced this afternoon.

Mr Maksoud was an honorary Old Collegian and taught at the school for nearly four decades, inspiring a love of maths and transforming its teaching.

Also a house master and co-curricular coach, he had a passion for coaching BBC’s rugby, cricket, athletics, and cross country programs and was known for an ability to intertwine maths and sports.

He routinely gave up his own time to tutor students, holding a weekly lunchtime mathematics club and running the middle school mathematics competitions.

Brisbane Boys' college maths teacher Chicri Maksoud.

He was so admired past students set up a Facebook page dedicated to him about a decade ago called simply: Chicri Maksoud... the man, the legend

“He was an epic maths mind,’’ Alex Jamieson posted.

“I’ll never forget the day he explained sin cos tan graphs in rugby terms....platinum Chicri,’’ Mitch Page said.

“Out of all my teachers from BBC I think Chicri Maksoud was my favourite.... and my god does he love to teach. He was my maths tutor a couple of times a week in grades 11 and 12, without which I most certainly would have failed,’’ Chris Simmons wrote.

OCA vice-president Jon Morrow posted this afternoon: “For 38 years he has touched the lives of many in our community and was an honorary Old Collegian.

“Chicri was a gifted educator who love of mathematics was only surpassed by the love of the charges under his care.

Mr Maksoud at his desk early in his career.

“Under his leadership the mathematics department moved forward to support the learning of all BBC boys, which was highlighted with the recent exemplary maths results from the 2021 Year 12 students.’’

School captain for 2022 Ollie Fearfield said Mr Maksoud “made such a huge difference in the lives of so many others”.

One former student said Mr Maksoud was the “best maths teacher BBC ever had and a top-notch bloke”.

Other students respectfully said “rest in peace Sir”.

The school said further information would be provided in time about how to “celebrate the legacy of this exceptional family man, human being and educator”.

Outside the classroom, Mr Maksoud’s great passions were family, the church (especially through ISCF and the 40-Hour Famine) and sports including rugby, cricket, athletics and cross country running.

“Colleagues, parents, Old Collegians and most significantly our students have had their lives enhanced by having Chicri as part of their journey,’’ the OCA said.

Mr Maksoud worked up until the end, and his passing has come as a great shock to the tight-knit school community.

He was being treated at Logan Hospital for a long illness before being transferred to a Gold Coast hospital.