Beloved Lower Merion middle school teacher killed in tragic crash, district says

LOWER MERION TOWNSHIP, Pa. - A local school district is mourning the "sudden and tragic" loss of a beloved teacher and "pillar" of their community.

Tim Mohan, a teacher at Bala Cynwyd Middle School, was killed in the crash Tuesday night, according to a letter sent to the Lower Merion School District community with his photo.

Superintendent Steve M. Yanni said Mohan was a "loving husband and proud father" who taught social studies at the school for 30 years. 

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"Mr. Mohan was a pillar of the BC Community who loved and cared for his students. Each day since 1993, he could be seen greeting his students with a smile in the hallway. He was a natural with his students, using storytelling and whimsical tales to engage them in U.S. History. He could also be heard singing the BC Alma Mater, though not always with the right words or in tune. He truly knew what it meant to be a middle school teacher," BCMS Principal Jeffrey Hunter said.

The district says the tragic news was shared with students and staff at school on Wednesday morning.

FOX 29’s Dawn Timmeney spoke to current students and their parents who were too emotional to go on camera, but they all had wonderful things to say about Mr. Mohan. 

"All the kids loved him. All the students loved him, teachers, faculty." said Louis Lenchner, former student.

Mohan was also the middle school’s Athletics and Activites Director for years. 

Lenchner says Mr. Mohan was his eighth grade history teacher back in 2002. 

"He was funny, you know. He'd light up the room," said Lenchner. "He did make learning fun for sure."

Echoing the note from Principal Hunter, Lenchner also recalled Mohan breaking into song while learning about people in history. 

"Like this guy was born in the USA, then he would sing Born In The USA - He would sing to it," said the former student. "He was a really good guy and right now, he'll be missed and he was very loved…He was a really good guy and right now, he'll be missed and he was very loved."

Mental health professionals were on hand Wednesday for students and faculty and will be in the coming days to help them deal with their grief.

Police have yet to release any details regarding the deadly crash.