It’s amazing how one individual can play a key educational role in the overall success of his or her school and not miss a beat.

Such was the case of the late Brian Latessa, who passed away on Aug. 8 at the age of 59. If you were a friend, fellow classmate, or student at his beloved Mt. Hope High School, consider yourself lucky. In today’s ever-changing educational cycle, Brian always played by the rules and gave it his all, in and out of the classroom.

As his obituary clearly pointed out, “Brian was a devoted husband to Monique Latessa for 34 loving years and proud father to their three beautiful children: Benjamin Classen, Domenique Latessa, and Luke Latessa. He was the ultimate family man.”

Brian loved being around people, especially the kids he had at Mt. Hope High. As a former star athlete and coach, he had a great rapport with his athletes and was always willing to go that extra mile to make them even better on the field of competition or on the wrestling mat. He also went that extra mile in the classroom and always had the best interest of his students at heart. He inspired and mentored so many young individuals and impacted many throughout his short life.

No matter who you talked to, every single person had a good thing to say about this extraordinary human being.

“Brian was always a gentleman and he consistently approached his teaching duties with the utmost dedication and diligence,” said retired Mt. Hope High School Principal Donald Rebello. “The students loved him for his caring demeanor and his willingness to do whatever necessary to ensure their success. The Mt. Hope community has lost a great man, and a most caring individual. Brian will be dearly missed.”

Longtime friend and colleague and former assistant Mt. Hope athletic director, Geoff Keegan, had this to say about Brian:

“Having had him as a student and then worked with him, he fostered a sense of curiosity in his classroom and had the ability to engage students and staff alike through his passion for whatever project was at hand in front of him. He brought the best out in his students at all times and always showed his support whether he had them this year or years ago, hence why we've seen such community heartbreak (and rightfully so) over his passing as he was a big part of Mt. Hope High School. And, I think his legacy will continue to be with what he believes behind in what he created with the TV studio and the Huskies News Network as part of the Business Department’s curriculum.”

“I now lost a good friend and colleague,” said Maureen Lynch Gauthier, Teacher Leader for the Arts & Applied Arts Department. “I will miss your jokes (which many times I never understood) and you took great pride in busting me for not understanding. You were a great friend who I leaned on and went to for advice. You will be missed by colleagues and students. Rest in peace, Brian Latessa. You will not be forgotten.”

Former Mt. Hope High principal, Dr. Deborah DiBiase, was particularly affected by Brian’s death.

“Brian was a remarkable educator whose sudden passing has left a tremendous void in our hearts,” she noted. “Brian was more than just a teacher; he was a mentor, a guide, and a source of inspiration for all who had the privilege of knowing him. He was also my friend who always had a smile to give, a joke to tell or just a kind word of encouragement.”

She added, “His passion for teaching was evident in every lesson he delivered, and every life he touched. Brian made learning an adventure, igniting curiosity and fostering a love for knowledge that will live on in the minds of his students forever. We will remember him through the successes of his students, in the memories we hold dear, and in the stories we share. Brian’s legacy will live on, not just in the halls of Mt. Hope but in the hearts of all those he touched.”

The bottom line in all of this is that it doesn’t matter who you talked to about the legacy of Brian Latessa, the result was always the same: a class guy with an abundance of energy whose love of family, career, and his students was second to none.