A man who died from injuries sustained in a Dartmouth, N.S., house fire is being remembered for the kindness he showed to children in his career as a social worker, as well as being a key figure in Halifax's gay community.

Ronald (Ron) Dunphy, 83, was a retired social worker in Dartmouth who had worked with youth in the school system, said his brother, Reg Dunphy.

"He would intervene with the family if there [were] issues that the school couldn't handle, that needed a more extensive investigation…