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Teacher wanted to make learning fun for `his kids' continued from p.1 His mother, Leonora Kotan, described her son as a someone who loved to laugh and have a good time. "He just loved to have fun and laugh and make other people laugh," she said. "He liked to have a good time and lived life to the fullest. Maybe that's a lesson we can all take from this." Leonora said Kotan enjoyed working out -- something Kotan makes clear on his webpage, which features a cartoon of a pumped up Stewie Griffin, a character from the television show Family Guy. The webpage stated Kotan, who made his home in Hamilton, was also a fan of `anything outdoors,' the movie The Godfather, Pearl Jam, Seal and `being awesome.' Leonora said her son came into the world fighting as a premature infant, weighing approximately 2 lbs. She said as a child he was sick a lot, but he always had a smile on his face and always overcame whatever the world threw at him. Leonora said Kotan's desire to help people learn and to improve dates back to "He loved his kids," said Leonora. "He would always tell all the kids in the class that they were a family and they had to work together. He wanted to make learning fun and different for them." By all accounts, Kotan appears to have succeeded in reaching his students as many attended his funeral and visitation. About 2,000 people attended the visitation last Friday. Leonora said students who were at the funeral wrote cards to Kotan that were ultimately placed in his casket. During the eulogy, one teacher said Kotan had touched more people in his three years at the school than most people do in 30 years. see Kotan on p.4 3 | Wednesday, August 7, 2013 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com Chris Kotan Helping You Make Smart Decisions About Your Money Memorial flowers for Chris Kotan, 28, a Grade 7 Montclair Public School teacher who died suddenly and unexpectedly July 29. | photo by Nikki Wesley ­ Oakville Beaver (Follow on Twitter @halton_ photog) THANK YOU FOR YOUR NOMINATIONS inside today's Editorial Sports Beaver www.insideHALTON.com when he played rep hockey as a boy. As a strong skater, Kotan was often asked to assist the younger children who would follow him as he took them through the various drills. Kotan began his teaching career as a tutor with the Hamilton School Board, but in 2010 moved to his position at Montclair where he would go on to excel as a Grade 7 math, gym, and art teacher. Listen Up Canada, Real Estate, Rona Home and Garden, National Sports, Sport Chek, Formula Publications, Staples Peter Watson MBA, CFP, R.F.P., CIM, FCSI Certified Financial Planner SINCE 1991 6 18 Artscene Classified 15 21 *All flyers not necessarily delivered to all homes For home delivery & customer service call 905-631-6095, 5300 Harvester Rd., Burlington New subscriptions call 905-631-6095 or subscribe online @ www.oakvillebeaver.com 220 Randall Street · Downtown Oakville Phone: 905.842.2100 www.peterwatsoninvestments.com Don't Compromise on Driver Training UPCOMING COURSES · 20 hours in class · 10 hours online · 10 hours in car (automatic) OR · 12 hours in car (manual) · MTO Approved Beginner Driver Education Program Provider August 19,20,21,22 Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs 9:30am to 3:30pm August 26,27,28,29 Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs 9:30am to 3:30pm September 21,22,28,29 Saturday,Sunday 9:30am to 3:30pm www.drivewiseoakville.com 905-845-7200