School communities mourn respected principal Paul Hogan after freak skylight death

Families and teaching staff are grieving the loss of a devoted and respected principal who fell more than three metres onto the concrete.

A much-loved former school principal died last week after falling through a skylight while retrieving balls from the roof of a Catholic primary school in Melbourne’s west.

It’s understood 61-year-old Paul Hogan was working as a temporary teacher at St Margaret Mary’s School in Spotswood when he fell more than three metres onto the concrete ground below.

He was taken to hospital with critical head injuries and died on Friday.

The accident took place at around 2.30pm, and it is understood there were still children on campus.

Catholic school communities are mourning the death of principal Paul Hogan.

Worksafe is investigating as several Catholic school communities in Melbourne’s northwest mourn the loss of a man who devoted his career to Catholic education.

A letter to St Therese’s Essendon families said Mr Hogan had died on Friday, with the school expressing its deepest sympathies.

He became principal at Our Lady of Mount Carmel School, Sunbury in 2009.

From there, in 2016, he was the principal at St Mary’s Primary School in Ascot Vale, until his retirement six years later in 2022.   

He then continued working as a part-time and casual relief teacher at St Anne’s Sunbury, St Mary’s Ascot Vale, and St Margaret Mary’s Spotswood.

Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS) executive director Dr Edward Simons said the MACS community was “deeply saddened” at tragic news of the passing of its colleague, friend, retired principal, and relief teacher.

“Paul was a highly regarded educator and leader in the Catholic school system across his 36-year career,” he said.

“We extend our sincere condolences to Paul’s family, friends and colleagues, and we hold all of those impacted in our hearts and prayers.

“Paul was a friend and mentor to many in our MACS community and he will be dearly missed.

“Appropriately at a time like this, MACS has activated and offered specialist support services for Paul’s family, our many staff and students and their families who may be impacted.”  

St Therese’s Primary School principal Michael Di Nuzzo wrote to the school community saying: “May perpetual light shine upon him and may he rest in peace.”

“Our sincere condolences are extended to Paul’s family, friends, colleagues and the so many people across our community, the community of St Mary’s Ascot Vale (where he was most recently Principal) and the wider Essendon community,” he said.

“Paul has positively impacted so many who witnessed his wonderful contribution to MACS schools over so many years.”