Schools

Hatboro-Horsham Alum, MCCC Prof Dies Suddenly

Ryan Johnson, a 1998 Hatboro-Horsham High School graduate, died on Monday.

A 1998 Hatboro-Horsham High School graduate died unexpectedly this week, according to The Mercury

Ryan M. Johnson, who had worked as a history professor at Montgomery County Community College’s West Campus in Pottstown since 2006, died Monday night. He was 32.

A representative from the Montgomery County Coroner’s Office told Patch on Wednesday afternoon that it would be “unusual” to have a cause of death so soon. The office generally tells family members it takes six to eight weeks, she said.

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Terry Morissette, a secretary for Hatboro-Horsham High School Principal Dennis Williams, confirmed on Wednesday that Johnson graduated from the school in 1998. His yearbook bio noted his desire to pursue a history degree, she said. 

Scott Johnson, who graduated from Hatboro-Horsham High School with Johnson, formerly of Horsham, said the two friends, who are not related, always ended up in homeroom together because of sharing the same last name. 

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The two, along with fellow Hatboro-Horsham student Andrea Myers, worked together on the high school's stage crew. Ryan Johnson served as the "master carpenter," according to Scott Johnson. 

But, even back then, Scott Johnson said he knew of his friend's love of history.

"He always liked talking about World War II history and German history," Scott Johnson said. "That’s what he’s been doing for the last eight years."

At Montgomery County Community College, Ryan Johnson taught Medieval and Modern European history courses, including a course on the Holocaust. In December 2008, the professor and his students visited the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C.

"I never actually realized how loved he was as a teacher until I looked around and started seeing the feedback he was getting," Scott Johnson said. "He was somebody who was always smiling, always in a good mood, always friendly. He never seemed sad."

Aside from his dedication to learning and teaching his students history, Scott Johnson recalled that his friend was a "passionate Transformers collector" who amassed many of the toys from childhood to more recent years.  

"I haven’t seen it recently, but it was probably 100 or more," Scott Johnson said. "I think he had a small collection when he was younger."

Myers, who said she lost touch with Ryan Johnson in more recent years, remembered him “as a good friend to have.”

“A stand up guy, quick with a smile,” Myers said. 

In a statement shared with The Mercury, college spokeswoman Alana Mauger said, “Ryan was a passionate, dedicated teacher who touched the lives of many students through his dynamic classroom environment."

Ryan Johnson served as co-advisor to Phi Theta Kappa Chapter at West Campus since 2009. 

According to his biography posted on the college’s Web site, Ryan Johnson earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science, followed by a master’s degree in history from the University of North Carolina, at Charlotte. He also co-founded the Montgomery County Community College Book Club. 

He recently completed his doctorate degree at Temple University and Scott Johnson shared that the plan was for his friend and wife Kate to "move back into the area."

Paying final respects

A viewing has been set for Ryan Johnson on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at LCBC Church, 100 Main St., in Harleysville. 

Funeral arrangements have not yet been finalized. Check back to Patch or keep up-to-date about this and other Hatboro and Horsham stories by subscribing to our free newsletter,"liking" us on Facebook or following @Hatboropatch on Twitter.


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