www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Wednesday, August 7, 2013 | 4 Kotan a really funny guy who was always smiling continued from p.3 touched more people in his three years at the school than most people do in 30 years. Others spoke about how he would dress up as Zero the Hero to help the Grade 1 students learn math and how he would dance up a storm at school dances. "It was a side of him that as a parent you don't see because that's his career side," said Leonora. "It was just amazing, how many people he touched." Students also had no shortage of good things to say about Kotan. On the website RateMyTeachers.com one post reads, "Mr. Kotan is a really awesome and funny teacher. He's not too easy on students so we learn discipline and how to act properly." Another post reads, "Mr. Kotan is awesome. Super funny teacher. Love how he has trivia and gives prizes." As of Monday morning, a Facebook memorial page set up by Kotan's family and students had 300 `Likes.' Leonora said Kotan had married his soulmate Me- Fall 2013 r u o v a S the t he SHADE EST. 1966 lissa one year ago after the couple dated for 10 years. "We met when we were teenagers. We were working at Zellers together in Hamilton. He was a stock boy and I worked at the jewelry counter," recalled Melissa. "He was just a really funny ...we realized in all of these pictures he's smiling, he's having fun in all of them and embracing life. He was a great son. Chris Kotan's mother Leonora Kotan WITH A QUALITY AWNING OR PATIO ROOF SYSTEM AWNING PRODUCTS www.jansawningpoducts.com SHOWROOM 4361 Harvester Road, Burlington 905 335 3733 Uncompromised Quality Since 1966 guy. He didn't take himself too seriously. We were kind of complete opposites in that way. I was always so serious about everything and he was always so carefree in a good way," said Melissa. "He was a lot different then people would perceive him to be just by looking at him. He was really sensitive. He was the hopeless romantic in our relationship. He really loved his job. It's just crazy. I feel like all of this is just so crazy." Leonora said her son had also recently spoken about his plans to soon head back over to Montclair to get set up for the new school year. Instead, Kotan suddenly collapsed while playing soccer with friends in Hamilton. He could not be revived. Leonora said his exact cause of death is unknown at this time. "We had a video, playing in the funeral home, of all his pictures and when we were putting together the boards we realized in all of these pictures he's smiling, he's having fun in all of them and embracing life," said Leonora. "He was a great son." Kotan's Facebook memorial page can be seen at www.facebook. com/#!/pages/Mr-Kotan-MemorialPage/166876496830306. Choose from over 800 courses either online or conveniently located in Brampton, Mississauga and Oakville. JULY 31ST TO AUGUST 11TH ONLY AT: Get your questions answered at our Information Sessions (7:00 pm each evening): Aug 13 - Trafalgar Road Campus, Oakville Aug 14 - Hazel McCallion Campus, Mississauga Aug 15 - Davis Campus, Brampton Our 10pc ClassIIc cookware set features our latest revolutionary improvement on our flagship product. 18/10 stainless steel construction and a new encapsulated bottom pad that's safe for all stovetops including induction. Set includes: 1.5L & 3L saucepans, 5L Dutch oven, 4L saute pan, 20cm & 24cm fry pan, and 4 covers. List: $779.00. 74% OFF! Appleby Home Hardware Appleby Mall, 5111 New St. BURLINGTON Maple Grove Home Hardware Maplegrove Village Shopping Centre 511 Maplegrove Dr. Unit #7 OAKVILLE ce.sheridancollege.ca $19999 PADERNO Information & dealers: 1-800-A NEW-POT or www.paderno.com. Not all locations open Sunday. Quantities limited, please be early. Sale items may not be exactly as shown.