Mr. Tutt’s family has created this page so that anyone may share their memories of Mr. Tutt. If you would like to share a longer story, a photo, or a video of Mr. Tutt please email [email protected]
While Mr. Tutt was a coach of mine growing up, I really got to know him in 2004 as a student of his Technology elective. He taught us hard work through server creation, web development, and of course Day of Defeat. Tutt had a way of educating even the distracted students (like me) by connecting through similar interests — giving vibes like a fellow student was teaching. I will be forever indebted to Tutt for recommending me for the 2004 Bank of America Technology Award/Scholarship. When he awarded it to me, I had no idea it was coming. It felt like the first time I had received recognition for something I ENJOYED. It really helped me study something I’m good at, get on track and become a more focused student in college. He saw something in me I didn’t see in myself at the time.
Thank you for everything, Tutt. From the mentoring, to the borderline appropriate jokes, and everything in between. I hope you and Emery are having a cold one right now. My sincerest condolences to the Tutt family.
Mr. Tutt was my tech teacher in freshman year and he made learning very fun. He was kind and connected with all his students. Everyone loved and respected him. I will miss him.
Mr. Tutt was my tech teacher during my freshman year back in 2003/2004. He always been helpful to me whenever I ask him questions regarding the programs and he gives a very helpful response. I will always be greatful for having Mr. Tutt as my teacher.
My sincerest condolences and prayers to Mrs. Tutt, family, friends and love ones.
May he rest in peace
I’ll always remember Mr. Tutt’s Tech Class freshman year. He always made me laugh and let me get away with being a smart alec in class. I am most thankful for him as he was was very supportive when my brother was physically assaulted at school. He was the only one that checked in with me to see how he was doing and if I needed to talk. I’ll always be grateful to Mr. Tutt for this; he was truly a teacher in every sense of the word. He taught us academics and how to be an advocate for ourselves and our peers.
Mr. Tutt was an awesome teacher. In addition to his teaching skills, he provided a fun environment for a bunch of us to hang out in his classroom at lunch. He also organized LAN parties and ran FBLA with his wife. While it has been years since I have personally spoken with Mr. Tutt, I remember him fondly, and am very sad to hear of his passing. He had a great sense of humor and the best sarcastic comebacks. I know more than one person who felt that he was a father figure to them. He created a thriving community for us young nerds to unite in, and I will never forget my first LAN party. These are just minor highlights from one lady in the major legacy of a great man. RIP, Mr. Tutt. You will be missed.
Mr. Tutt was one of my favorite teachers. He always made class so fun to learn and not put a lot of pressure on us. His sense of humor was very unique and funny. Lupita and I would sometimes visit him during breaks just to chat and hang. When my mom was working at the high school before she retired, I would visit her during my lunches and would see Mr. Tutt in the office chatting. It was always so nice to see him and catch up on our lives. He was an amazing teacher to all of us and will miss him so much! Prayers going up for his family and friends.
I am currently a freshman in high school, and I had him as my tech teacher for this semester before we were in quarantine. I absolutely enjoyed being in his classroom so much. I could be in a terrible mood and as soon as it was time for tech, I was always able to laugh. He was super fun to be around and made a class I had assumed to be dull and tedious, an entertaining fun place to be. I still remember the one day where I brought my guitar and he told me stories how he learned when he was younger. He would always crack jokes about being “immortal” and he always would make the class erupt into laughter at one point in the day. I already miss him so much, and it’s hard to continue tech class without him. I hope he rests in peace and my thoughts go to his family and friends.
Shawn told me stories of visiting his grandparents who lived on East Mayes where I grew up. He remembered summers on my block vividly. I don’t know how it was that our paths didn’t cross then – there were really no other kids who lived on my block – but instead I got to know him when I served on the DUSD board.
Shawn was funny, level headed and a friend to everyone. He was a pleasure to work with and he was a tireless advocate for the kids and teachers of Dixon. Our district is better off because he served it in so many ways. It was my pleasure to get to know him and to share stories of East Mayes with him.
I worked with Shawn for many years. I was a Special Education Paraeducator and I had the pleasure of working in many of Shawn’s classes through the years. I worked in his Tech Classes, Consumer Math, Economics, Civics and his World History Class. He was a highly respected teacher by so many of his students. Shawn was always there for each student. He will be greatly missed by all. He was not only a co worker but a good friend.
Unfortunately, I had to take one summer school class in high school, yuck. And it was Math! Even worse! Here is the good news, Mr. Tutt somehow spoke my language as a student and everything that did not make sense became clear. I appreciated his calm and patient demeanor. Making me want to understand what was being taught. Summer school was not that bad after all. He has and always will have my respect. And let’s not forget the wonderful children he raised. RIP Mr. Tutt.
I did not know Shawn until I became a member of the Dixon Unified School Board. After I met him, I learned of his passionate educating of students and was lucky enough to have my daughter in his class. I learned of his willingness to donate his time and ideas for district committees and his efforts to represent the teachers in Dixon. Shawn always kept the big picture in mind and was a reasonable man who worked to better things around him. He was diligent in being kind and made Dixon and Dixon High School a better place. Shawn will be missed and our love is sent out to his family.
I was lucky enough to have Mr. Tutt freshman year for computer tech and this year for econ/civics. I would go in his class every day at lunch with my friends where he would tell us stories, give us advice, or just make fun of us. I’ve always been the quiet one during class but not around Mr. Tutt he was so easy to talk to and he had advice for everything good or bad. When it came time to apply to college he suggested Sacramento city college because it would be better for me and what i want to do and now I’m waiting to enroll in classes. He was always so helpful and caring even though he acted as if he wasn’t. I really miss bugging him with my friend about buying us a car as a graduation present since he always talked about how rich he was, or him letting us leave community service to get him a McDonald’s hash brown, and how we would make fun of him and call him old where he would then go on about how he was immortal. Mr. Tutt was my favorite teacher and still is. I will never forget the memories we created with him.
Forever thankful for having you Mr. Tutt in our life . You where always there for my daughter when she needed help with her diabetes! she always knew she could go to your class for a snack to get her blood sugar up! Such a big help in supporting my daughters with diabetes . you will always be in our heart!!!
Mr. Tutt was such an amazing man. I had him this year for civics/Econ and I couldn’t have asked for a better teacher. I actually enjoyed joking with him so much that I would go in everyday during lunch with a friend and stay for fifth period because I wasn’t assigned one. We would spend almost the whole period picking on Tutt and he would pick on us and other students. my friend and I would always beg him for cars and money and he would always shake his head at us and laugh. It was the highlight of the day. I always looked forward to his class because he never failed to make us students smile and laugh. He also was very wise and gave great advice. He actually helped that friend and I chose where to start college this fall. Tutt was not only a teacher to me and many others, but he was like a grandpa to me. He was always there for me to talk about problems I was dealing with, and boys and other things. Every time I cry about his passing, all I can picture is him looking at me and shaking his head and telling me that I’m a wimp for crying. He felt like family and I will NEVER forget him and all the memories that have been made with him. He made my senior year something I will never forget, I just wish I could have taken a picture with him at graduation like we planned. My condolences to his family, he talked about you all constantly and how much he loved you. May he Rest In Peace ♥️
Mr. Tutt came into the restaurant I work at, 2 years after graduating and talked to me about what I was doing in school and life in general, he told me I should “get outta this dump”, laughed, then told me he was proud of me and knew I was going to do great things in the future. Something I really needed to hear at the time. He was a great teacher, always had a great comeback, and most importantly always had his students backs when they needed it. He taught me so much about life and I’ll always be thankful to him for that.
I had the pleasure (or “misfortune” as he might call it) to know Shawn both as my former teacher and later as a colleague and DTA mentor. Shawn had a deep caring and respect for people (“Sure, let’s go with that” he might say). His sense of humor was legendary. He often made me laugh and cry and cringe in the same breath. As a colleague, he took his remarkable powers to epic and highly understated lengths, and not only used them to make you laugh but to fire you up. It was a gift he had. Sometimes it felt like playing a game of fireball ping-pong. But instead of hitting the table the ball would smack into one thing and then another and another but we’d go on playing as if nothing out of the ordinary was happening, curtains and carpet in flames around us. Shawn never pretended or acted embarrassed about who he was. He was always his authentic self, always present, always seized the day, always had a joke ready under his breath as he passed D201 that completely threw me. He always checked in with me when I needed it and sometimes when I didn’t, or when he time and time again advocated for others. I asked him once if he was a mind reader. I don’t remember what he said exactly but I remember how he said it. He paused, blinked and shrugged, then suddenly he flashed a grin and quickly quieted it as if something occurred to him. He was fond of the phrase, “I shouldn’t say this but”. Come to think of it, one of the few things he was never very good at was hiding who he was because in the end his compassion always sold him out. Whether it was bargaining on behalf of teachers as a member of the Exec Board or supporting and encouraging students through the tough times. He had a knack for helping people. One of the last pieces of advice he gave me was to slow down, as if he knew some great secret but wouldn’t tell me. But I think I finally figured out what it was. The most important thing any of us have to give one another is time. And Shawn knew the value of his on this Earth. We are sadder now for the lack of it. Rest in power, Shawn.
Jamie,
I can not praise you enough for your beautifully written note remembering my cusin Shawn.. You so captured him bigger than life & so true to himself always thinking of others…
He is dearly missed in our thoughts , prayers & great memories held close to hearts….
Tutt had the respect of teachers and students alike. He’s one of the reasons I got into IT work. The way he interacted with us made class enjoyable. He was dedicated to making the district better for everyone. I still remember the lan parties we held, FBLA, and just hanging out in his classroom during lunch. He’ll be greatly missed
I graduated in 2017 and that year I had Mr. Tutt for two hours everyday. I had known him from credit recovery the previous year and I was happy when I learned he would be my teacher again for my last year at Dixon High. Mr. Tutt gave me a lot of advice when I was afraid of “after high school” life. I’ve never been an easy student to deal with and he was one of the only ones that had a lot of patience with me and I really appreciate him for that. I really appreciate him for helping me cross the finish line and graduate. He was not only one of my favorite teachers but probably one of my favorite people at school. I’ll never forget him, and I’ll miss him always. I’ll always have a lot of respect for him. My heart is truly with his family right now and everyone close to him. Rip Tutt. Thank you for everything. ❤️
I’ve had Mr. Tutt for computer tech and as a substitute for other teachers. He was by far the most amazing teacher on campus. When I’d sit alone by myself at lunch, he’d always walk by me and ask if I was okay. He’d always point to me and say “you be good in school okay?” That always made me feel so much better. I loved this teacher. He was such a cool teacher. He will forever be missed.
I never had Mr. Tutt as a teacher but he was a friendly face around DHS. He was one of those people that would smile at you as you passed and acknowledge you. My heart goes to his family at this time and prayers for peace and healing.
I had the pleasure of working with Shawn Tutt during Saturday School at Anderson School. He would mentor the high school students who helped out in various classrooms. He was well respected by all.
Each one of my three children were lucky enough to have Shawn Tutt as a teacher during their time at Dixon High School. We sat around one night and they each mentioned what a great teacher he was and how they enjoyed his discussions regarding relevant current events.
Shawn always spoke about his family with pride. He will be missed by all.
I got to know Shawn when I worked with him and his wife on the Dixon Teachers’ Association Board. His dedication to his colleagues was evident in the countless hours he spent advocating for them, both individually and collectively. He also was dedicated to his students, about whom he spoke with some frustration, lots of humor, but always with great respect. His pride in his own children was very obvious, as his face beamed when he spoke of them and their accomplishments. Although he and Caroline, his wife, often bickered and teased each other, his love for her was deep and real. One of the last conversations I had with him was at the beginning of the school year at DUSD’s Back to School Breakfast. His wife had decided to retire the prior year, but he had decided to keep teaching, so he was there without her. She was going to live on their property in Idaho, while he remained in Dixon. I asked him how he was doing with the separation, and I honestly expected a smart alecky answer from him. Instead, his eye tear-upped when he replied, “She just left, and I miss her already.” I send my deepest condolences to Shawn’s family and wish them comfort in their memories of him.
Mr. Tutt was a member of my daughter’s IEP team and a very positive upbeat personality. He was more than willing to add Bree to his computer class for a couple of years. Although Bree who is a nonverbal DS-ASD person had her challenges. She loved going to Computer class.She hasn’t had him for a teacher since 2017, even so anytime we go back on campus she makes a beeline to his classroom. That in itself is a testament to Shawn and his ability to reach all students.
One of my sons also had Mr. T for some classes and Mr. T fostered in him the love of history, discussing ramifications and debating on events. Beyond that Mr. T was able to reach him on a personal level when he was floundering with future life decisions .He was a great teacher and an even more awesome advocate of the students. He will be missed.
While Mr. Tutt was a coach of mine growing up, I really got to know him in 2004 as a student of his Technology elective. He taught us hard work through server creation, web development, and of course Day of Defeat. Tutt had a way of educating even the distracted students (like me) by connecting through similar interests — giving vibes like a fellow student was teaching. I will be forever indebted to Tutt for recommending me for the 2004 Bank of America Technology Award/Scholarship. When he awarded it to me, I had no idea it was coming. It felt like the first time I had received recognition for something I ENJOYED. It really helped me study something I’m good at, get on track and become a more focused student in college. He saw something in me I didn’t see in myself at the time.
Thank you for everything, Tutt. From the mentoring, to the borderline appropriate jokes, and everything in between. I hope you and Emery are having a cold one right now. My sincerest condolences to the Tutt family.
Mr. Tutt was my tech teacher in freshman year and he made learning very fun. He was kind and connected with all his students. Everyone loved and respected him. I will miss him.
Mr. Tutt was my tech teacher during my freshman year back in 2003/2004. He always been helpful to me whenever I ask him questions regarding the programs and he gives a very helpful response. I will always be greatful for having Mr. Tutt as my teacher.
My sincerest condolences and prayers to Mrs. Tutt, family, friends and love ones.
May he rest in peace
I’ll always remember Mr. Tutt’s Tech Class freshman year. He always made me laugh and let me get away with being a smart alec in class. I am most thankful for him as he was was very supportive when my brother was physically assaulted at school. He was the only one that checked in with me to see how he was doing and if I needed to talk. I’ll always be grateful to Mr. Tutt for this; he was truly a teacher in every sense of the word. He taught us academics and how to be an advocate for ourselves and our peers.
Mr. Tutt was an awesome teacher. In addition to his teaching skills, he provided a fun environment for a bunch of us to hang out in his classroom at lunch. He also organized LAN parties and ran FBLA with his wife. While it has been years since I have personally spoken with Mr. Tutt, I remember him fondly, and am very sad to hear of his passing. He had a great sense of humor and the best sarcastic comebacks. I know more than one person who felt that he was a father figure to them. He created a thriving community for us young nerds to unite in, and I will never forget my first LAN party. These are just minor highlights from one lady in the major legacy of a great man. RIP, Mr. Tutt. You will be missed.
I remember Mr. Tutt in 9th grade as my Tech teacher. He was awesome and funny. Definitely have great memories in his classroom.
Mr. Tutt was one of my favorite teachers. He always made class so fun to learn and not put a lot of pressure on us. His sense of humor was very unique and funny. Lupita and I would sometimes visit him during breaks just to chat and hang. When my mom was working at the high school before she retired, I would visit her during my lunches and would see Mr. Tutt in the office chatting. It was always so nice to see him and catch up on our lives. He was an amazing teacher to all of us and will miss him so much! Prayers going up for his family and friends.
I am currently a freshman in high school, and I had him as my tech teacher for this semester before we were in quarantine. I absolutely enjoyed being in his classroom so much. I could be in a terrible mood and as soon as it was time for tech, I was always able to laugh. He was super fun to be around and made a class I had assumed to be dull and tedious, an entertaining fun place to be. I still remember the one day where I brought my guitar and he told me stories how he learned when he was younger. He would always crack jokes about being “immortal” and he always would make the class erupt into laughter at one point in the day. I already miss him so much, and it’s hard to continue tech class without him. I hope he rests in peace and my thoughts go to his family and friends.
Shawn told me stories of visiting his grandparents who lived on East Mayes where I grew up. He remembered summers on my block vividly. I don’t know how it was that our paths didn’t cross then – there were really no other kids who lived on my block – but instead I got to know him when I served on the DUSD board.
Shawn was funny, level headed and a friend to everyone. He was a pleasure to work with and he was a tireless advocate for the kids and teachers of Dixon. Our district is better off because he served it in so many ways. It was my pleasure to get to know him and to share stories of East Mayes with him.
I worked with Shawn for many years. I was a Special Education Paraeducator and I had the pleasure of working in many of Shawn’s classes through the years. I worked in his Tech Classes, Consumer Math, Economics, Civics and his World History Class. He was a highly respected teacher by so many of his students. Shawn was always there for each student. He will be greatly missed by all. He was not only a co worker but a good friend.
Unfortunately, I had to take one summer school class in high school, yuck. And it was Math! Even worse! Here is the good news, Mr. Tutt somehow spoke my language as a student and everything that did not make sense became clear. I appreciated his calm and patient demeanor. Making me want to understand what was being taught. Summer school was not that bad after all. He has and always will have my respect. And let’s not forget the wonderful children he raised. RIP Mr. Tutt.
I did not know Shawn until I became a member of the Dixon Unified School Board. After I met him, I learned of his passionate educating of students and was lucky enough to have my daughter in his class. I learned of his willingness to donate his time and ideas for district committees and his efforts to represent the teachers in Dixon. Shawn always kept the big picture in mind and was a reasonable man who worked to better things around him. He was diligent in being kind and made Dixon and Dixon High School a better place. Shawn will be missed and our love is sent out to his family.
I was lucky enough to have Mr. Tutt freshman year for computer tech and this year for econ/civics. I would go in his class every day at lunch with my friends where he would tell us stories, give us advice, or just make fun of us. I’ve always been the quiet one during class but not around Mr. Tutt he was so easy to talk to and he had advice for everything good or bad. When it came time to apply to college he suggested Sacramento city college because it would be better for me and what i want to do and now I’m waiting to enroll in classes. He was always so helpful and caring even though he acted as if he wasn’t. I really miss bugging him with my friend about buying us a car as a graduation present since he always talked about how rich he was, or him letting us leave community service to get him a McDonald’s hash brown, and how we would make fun of him and call him old where he would then go on about how he was immortal. Mr. Tutt was my favorite teacher and still is. I will never forget the memories we created with him.
Forever thankful for having you Mr. Tutt in our life . You where always there for my daughter when she needed help with her diabetes! she always knew she could go to your class for a snack to get her blood sugar up! Such a big help in supporting my daughters with diabetes . you will always be in our heart!!!
Mr. Tutt was such an amazing man. I had him this year for civics/Econ and I couldn’t have asked for a better teacher. I actually enjoyed joking with him so much that I would go in everyday during lunch with a friend and stay for fifth period because I wasn’t assigned one. We would spend almost the whole period picking on Tutt and he would pick on us and other students. my friend and I would always beg him for cars and money and he would always shake his head at us and laugh. It was the highlight of the day. I always looked forward to his class because he never failed to make us students smile and laugh. He also was very wise and gave great advice. He actually helped that friend and I chose where to start college this fall. Tutt was not only a teacher to me and many others, but he was like a grandpa to me. He was always there for me to talk about problems I was dealing with, and boys and other things. Every time I cry about his passing, all I can picture is him looking at me and shaking his head and telling me that I’m a wimp for crying. He felt like family and I will NEVER forget him and all the memories that have been made with him. He made my senior year something I will never forget, I just wish I could have taken a picture with him at graduation like we planned. My condolences to his family, he talked about you all constantly and how much he loved you. May he Rest In Peace ♥️
Mr. Tutt came into the restaurant I work at, 2 years after graduating and talked to me about what I was doing in school and life in general, he told me I should “get outta this dump”, laughed, then told me he was proud of me and knew I was going to do great things in the future. Something I really needed to hear at the time. He was a great teacher, always had a great comeback, and most importantly always had his students backs when they needed it. He taught me so much about life and I’ll always be thankful to him for that.
I had the pleasure (or “misfortune” as he might call it) to know Shawn both as my former teacher and later as a colleague and DTA mentor. Shawn had a deep caring and respect for people (“Sure, let’s go with that” he might say). His sense of humor was legendary. He often made me laugh and cry and cringe in the same breath. As a colleague, he took his remarkable powers to epic and highly understated lengths, and not only used them to make you laugh but to fire you up. It was a gift he had. Sometimes it felt like playing a game of fireball ping-pong. But instead of hitting the table the ball would smack into one thing and then another and another but we’d go on playing as if nothing out of the ordinary was happening, curtains and carpet in flames around us. Shawn never pretended or acted embarrassed about who he was. He was always his authentic self, always present, always seized the day, always had a joke ready under his breath as he passed D201 that completely threw me. He always checked in with me when I needed it and sometimes when I didn’t, or when he time and time again advocated for others. I asked him once if he was a mind reader. I don’t remember what he said exactly but I remember how he said it. He paused, blinked and shrugged, then suddenly he flashed a grin and quickly quieted it as if something occurred to him. He was fond of the phrase, “I shouldn’t say this but”. Come to think of it, one of the few things he was never very good at was hiding who he was because in the end his compassion always sold him out. Whether it was bargaining on behalf of teachers as a member of the Exec Board or supporting and encouraging students through the tough times. He had a knack for helping people. One of the last pieces of advice he gave me was to slow down, as if he knew some great secret but wouldn’t tell me. But I think I finally figured out what it was. The most important thing any of us have to give one another is time. And Shawn knew the value of his on this Earth. We are sadder now for the lack of it. Rest in power, Shawn.
Jamie,
I can not praise you enough for your beautifully written note remembering my cusin Shawn.. You so captured him bigger than life & so true to himself always thinking of others…
He is dearly missed in our thoughts , prayers & great memories held close to hearts….
Tutt had the respect of teachers and students alike. He’s one of the reasons I got into IT work. The way he interacted with us made class enjoyable. He was dedicated to making the district better for everyone. I still remember the lan parties we held, FBLA, and just hanging out in his classroom during lunch. He’ll be greatly missed
I graduated in 2017 and that year I had Mr. Tutt for two hours everyday. I had known him from credit recovery the previous year and I was happy when I learned he would be my teacher again for my last year at Dixon High. Mr. Tutt gave me a lot of advice when I was afraid of “after high school” life. I’ve never been an easy student to deal with and he was one of the only ones that had a lot of patience with me and I really appreciate him for that. I really appreciate him for helping me cross the finish line and graduate. He was not only one of my favorite teachers but probably one of my favorite people at school. I’ll never forget him, and I’ll miss him always. I’ll always have a lot of respect for him. My heart is truly with his family right now and everyone close to him. Rip Tutt. Thank you for everything. ❤️
I’ve had Mr. Tutt for computer tech and as a substitute for other teachers. He was by far the most amazing teacher on campus. When I’d sit alone by myself at lunch, he’d always walk by me and ask if I was okay. He’d always point to me and say “you be good in school okay?” That always made me feel so much better. I loved this teacher. He was such a cool teacher. He will forever be missed.
I never had Mr. Tutt as a teacher but he was a friendly face around DHS. He was one of those people that would smile at you as you passed and acknowledge you. My heart goes to his family at this time and prayers for peace and healing.
I had the pleasure of working with Shawn Tutt during Saturday School at Anderson School. He would mentor the high school students who helped out in various classrooms. He was well respected by all.
Each one of my three children were lucky enough to have Shawn Tutt as a teacher during their time at Dixon High School. We sat around one night and they each mentioned what a great teacher he was and how they enjoyed his discussions regarding relevant current events.
Shawn always spoke about his family with pride. He will be missed by all.
I got to know Shawn when I worked with him and his wife on the Dixon Teachers’ Association Board. His dedication to his colleagues was evident in the countless hours he spent advocating for them, both individually and collectively. He also was dedicated to his students, about whom he spoke with some frustration, lots of humor, but always with great respect. His pride in his own children was very obvious, as his face beamed when he spoke of them and their accomplishments. Although he and Caroline, his wife, often bickered and teased each other, his love for her was deep and real. One of the last conversations I had with him was at the beginning of the school year at DUSD’s Back to School Breakfast. His wife had decided to retire the prior year, but he had decided to keep teaching, so he was there without her. She was going to live on their property in Idaho, while he remained in Dixon. I asked him how he was doing with the separation, and I honestly expected a smart alecky answer from him. Instead, his eye tear-upped when he replied, “She just left, and I miss her already.” I send my deepest condolences to Shawn’s family and wish them comfort in their memories of him.
Mr. Tutt was a member of my daughter’s IEP team and a very positive upbeat personality. He was more than willing to add Bree to his computer class for a couple of years. Although Bree who is a nonverbal DS-ASD person had her challenges. She loved going to Computer class.She hasn’t had him for a teacher since 2017, even so anytime we go back on campus she makes a beeline to his classroom. That in itself is a testament to Shawn and his ability to reach all students.
One of my sons also had Mr. T for some classes and Mr. T fostered in him the love of history, discussing ramifications and debating on events. Beyond that Mr. T was able to reach him on a personal level when he was floundering with future life decisions .He was a great teacher and an even more awesome advocate of the students. He will be missed.