HARRISON, Ohio — A Harrison High School teacher went into cardiac arrest in his classroom Thursday morning and later died at the hospital, Southwest Local Schools announced.
The district said John Stephen "Steve" Coffman II, a mathematics teacher, was known for his "steady presence, passion for education and unwavering commitment to students."
"Many of our students and staff members are deeply impacted by this, as grief is an incredibly difficult experience to process," the district said. "Our team has been working directly with the family to provide support since this tragedy occurred, and we want to provide support for our students and staff as well."
Coffman had also worked at Harrison Junior, South Dearborn, East Central and multiple other Indiana schools. He previously served as the head boys basketball coach and assistant softball and cross country coach at Harrison High School, and helped fellow staff members with financial planning as an investment advisor representative with Coffman Wealth Management.
WATCH: Community mourns teacher who died after going into cardiac arrest
An email sent to parents said the school's Project ADAM team and neighboring teachers helped administer emergency medical care before Coffman was taken to Mercy West, where he later died.
School board president Jeff Biddle is a family friend of Coffman.
"It's just a terrible day for their family and the district," Biddle said. "He was a wonderful man. My wife was a babysitter for their children."
Biddle said the teacher has two daughters.
In a statement Thursday, Sunman-Dearborn Community Schools said Coffman was a "proud parent of both an East Central High School alumnus and a current student, and the spouse of one of our own teachers."
We spoke with several students and colleagues of Coffman's on Thursday and Friday. It was clear that he was loved by many in the district and community.
WATCH: Friends, students of Coffman share memories with WCPO
"Steve was just a great, personable guy, was very genuine, very authentic," said Joe Pollitt, the principal of William Henry Harrison High School.
Soraya Laug graduated from Harrison in 2023. She told WCPO that Coffman was her favorite teacher.
"He had a bright smile on his face, he always had the class laughing, he was just the best to be around," Laug said. "If he noticed that one of the classmates were sad or anything, he would walk up to them, mess with them a little bit, and just make sure they smile."
Southwest Local Schools superintendent, John C Hamstra, is a friend of Coffman’s and has known him for over 20 years. He said Coffman was passionate about his job and cared deeply for his students.
"Never met an enemy of Steve," Hamstra said. "He was kind to everybody."
The district canceled classes for the high school and junior school on Friday, but left the doors open to anyone in need of grief counseling and support.
"We’re three weeks away from the end of the school year and graduation, and all the things that should be celebrations. So we’re trying to balance that with also giving time and space to remember Steve, and to care for our staff and students who are grieving right now," Pollitt said.
We asked Pollitt and Hamstra what they believe Coffman's legacy would be.
"I think his legacy will be kids first, and students first," Hamstra said.
"I think Steve’s legacy will be about relationships, just the number of lives that he’s touched," Pollitt said. "Not just in the high school and junior school, but throughout the district over his 22 years with us."
Community support will also be available at the high school when classes resume on Monday, the district said.
