When the news broke, I didn’t recognize his name. It only took a second, however, to place his face.

In my four-plus years of covering sports in Sammamish, I probably saw him a hundred times. Whether standing on the sideline or sitting in the stands, school resource officer Stan Chapin was a familiar fixture at Eastlake High sporting events.

And from speaking to students, that wasn’t a fluke.

Chapin, who died unexpectedly last week at his home, made it a point to not only be visible at student events, he genuinely had an interest in the outcome.

“He would attend all the school events on his own time and that really showed us how much he truly cared,” 2010 EHS graduate Dylan Markley said.

Student after student echoed the sentiment last week in Eastlake’s hallways, sharing stories of a man they not only viewed as an authority figure, but a friend.

“He knew all the students by name,” senior Marlena Masterleo said. “If he didn’t know you’re name right away, he’d know it the next couple of times he’d talk to you.”

Chapin would sit at the entrance to the school in the morning, greeting every student with a wave and a smile. He did the same in the afternoon as they left.

During lunch, he walked around and talked with kids. If someone looked upset, he wasted no time reaching out to them.

He was also well-known for his sense of humor.

YouTube searches for “Stan Chapin” bring up videos of velociraptor impersonations and a skit at Inglewood where he dressed up in a wig and lip-synced Hannah Montana songs.

Of course there was a firm side. The near 40-year veteran of the King County Sheriff’s Office was a father of three, a former detective, a veteran of the Seattle FBI’s Fugitive Apprehension Team and an U.S. Army reservist.

While his resource officer job required a certain sternness, he always maintained a balance — something students admired.

“He does (things) in such a way that you understand why he had to do what he had to do and you just respect it,” Masterleo said.

It was no mistake Sammamish Police Chief Nate Elledge assigned Chapin to his position.

“He was there because he genuinely cared about the kids,” Elledge said. “Because he wanted to see the kids succeed.”

While I never met him, it’s not hard to determine officer Chapin was a rare gem. He was an authority figure who gained respect by showing respect — a philosophy most anyone could apply to not only make the community, but the world a better place.

Thank you for all your service, officer Chapin. You will be deeply missed.