The Norwalk community is remembering a beloved teacher from Norwalk High School.

Rick Fuller, a longtime teacher at the high school, coached the school's girls basketball program for nearly a quarter century.

Fuller dedicated his life to helping people.

"To this day, kids will tell you, Mr. Fuller changed my life," Doug Marchetti, the Norwalk High School athletic director said. "If they needed lunch money, he'd give them money out of his own pocket. If they needed pens or pencils, he took care of them."

Fuller helped lead the team to an undefeated, state championship season in 2019.

"Ricky just worked with kids at their level and gave them the tools they needed to succeed. But he did it as a role model and showing love, compassion, and care," said Marchetti.

Fuller mentored at the Norwalk Housing Authority afterschool program and the George Washington Carver Center.

"Passionate about what he did. Passionate about basketball. Passionate about the work in the classroom,” Marchetti said. “High school kids, they're going to read you pretty quick as a teacher, and that's why they flocked to him because of those kinds of character traits that he had."

The city of Norwalk and school district say they're working on ways to formally honor the late 52-year-old.

"They were looking to him for advice, to help them in some way, shape or form. And the thing is, he was always there ready to do it," said Norwalk Mayor Harry Rilling.