Last Wednesday the Hoban community suffered a tragic loss. Terrance Spoonster, an assistant coach and father of 2004 graduate Tom Spoonster, passed away Jan. 22.

"He was a really awesome person," junior Steve Stetz said. "He did so much for our class of football players ever since we were freshmen."

Spoonster, 48, suffered a heart attack while giving Special Olympics ski lessons at Brandywine Ski Resort. He was rushed to the hospital but could not be revived.

Volunteering his time as an assistant freshman football coach, Spoonster coined phrases such as "get jets," "eyes like an eagle," and "what did I just say?" He was infamous for tackling and blocking drills, in which players would sprint through a gauntlet of tackling dummies and teammates trying to knock them down. He also instilled the values and skills necessary to continue their high school football careers.

"Everybody had such a good relationship with him," junior Chris Sabo said. "He was like one of the guys."

Spoonster helped with the baseball team as well. When renovation on the baseball field began, he helped out every day that the team worked on it.

Spoonster did more than volunteer at Hoban. He contributed his time working with the Special Olympics and giving talks about the importance of prayer at Catholic elementary schools.

A prayer service was held in his honor in the chapel after school Thursday. It's undeniable that he had a huge impact on the players he coached and worked with. He was a man who touched the lives of many and will be missed.