Daniel John Horan, known to many Pelham Latin students as Magister Horan, passed away on July 1, after a brief battle with cancer at 47.

Mr. Horan made a lasting impact on his students, who ranged from grades 6-12. The upbeat energy he brought to the teaching of Latin and the excitement he exhibited for the study of classical history transformed his classroom into an engaging and welcoming place.

Junior Rachel Brewer, a former student of his, said, “It’s rare to find a teacher as understanding, knowledgeable, and passionate as he was.”

Originally from Portland, Oregon, Mr. Horan once told his Latin III class that he did not always know he would study Latin or the classics. He taught himself the language by reading in between his shifts as a bartender. It was then that he realized this was something he wanted to pursue.

He relocated from Oregon to the east coast to teach Latin at Elizabeth Seton High School in Maryland, Fox Lane High School in Bedford, and finally at the Pelham UFSD; a total of 16 years of teaching.

His passion for Latin and the classics resonated in the classroom as he taught not by the book, but from the heart. Although Pelham students did not know him for long, Mr. Horan instilled this love for Latin to his students.

“Mr. Horan showed a tremendous enthusiasm for Latin, and his spirit really carried over to the students he taught,” said junior Dylan Gurl, a former student of Mr. Horan. “He made the class really interesting for everyone in it, and I hope that his passion for what he did inspires all of us who had him to have the same energy.”

Mr. Horan is survived by his wife, Kathleen, his son, Malcolm, 9, and his daughter, Julia, 6. If anyone would like to support the family or send their condolences, they can visit the Horan Family Fund GoFundMe page at: https://www.gofundme.com/HoranFamilyFund.