A LIFE'S WORK: `THESE KIDS JUST LOVE HIM'.(MAIN)

Byline: TIM O'BRIEN AND WINIFRED YU Staff writers

Troy To the friends of School 12 Principal James Kapp, the irony is that a man who dedicated his life to youth could be so seriously hurt by what may have been a tragic juvenile act of mischief.

Former colleagues and friends describe Kapp, seriously injured Thursday when a fire escape collapsed as he stood on it, as a deeply religious Roman Catholic who lived for his work.

The 45-year-old principal won the hearts of his young charges during his two-year tenure at School 12.

``Every morning, he'd have at least three kids running up to him,'' said Nicole Mestoik, whose daughter, Felicia, is a …