SOUTH BEND — Big crowds turned out to say goodbye to a beloved educator. Mark Tulchinsky was the principal at Tarkington Traditional School. He collapsed and died at the school Tuesday.

Notre Dame head basketball coach Mike Brey was among family and friends at the viewing held Wednesday at Forest G. Hay Funeral Home on South Ironwood. Tulchinsky ran the shot clock at Notre Dame games for nearly 20 years.

Tulchinsky touched a lot of lives. He devoted 40 years of his life to education and left behind a lasting legacy.

"He told me I brought a lot of life to the room," said student Ashlee Valentine.

They're the words 6th grader Ashlee Valentine will remember most about Mark Tulchinsky when he was her principal at Monroe.

"P.S. You remind me of him because you're so caring in trying to create a better world,” Valentine read from a letter she wrote.

It's the reason Ashlee felt so compelled to write a letter to her new principal at Jefferson.

"The letter just wanted to give me some encouragement knowing that I had lost a very good friend," said Jefferson principal Jim Kapsa.

And a good role model for many students who walked these halls.

Switching from Monroe to Jefferson was difficult for Ashlee. But it was Mr. T's encouragement that helped get her through it.

"I didn't really know anybody and I didn't really have any friends. But then when I came here I remembered what he said and it made me want to try harder and not get in as much trouble,” said Valentine.

He left a lasting impression among students and friends.

“He had spoken about past health problems and just to live one day at a time and enjoy the day and I keep that in mind all the time," said Kapsa.

"You can always be a good person as long as you try hard and be good,” said Valentine.

Mark Tulchinsky’s funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at Sinai Synagogue.