ICYMI: Well Known Westfield Teacher, Coach Dies at 65

Thom Hornish, a former social studies teacher and head girls varsity cross country coach for Westfield High School, passed away at the age of 65 over the weekend.

“Donald Thomas Hornish Jr. Beloved husband, teacher, and coach Sept. 10, 1949-Aug. 29, 2015 Thom Hornish of Clark, N.J., passed away peacefully after a valiant year-long battle with cancer,” according to his obituary.

A 41 year veteran of the Westfield School District, Hornish retired in 2014. However, he came back to Westfield H.S. this year as the keynote speaker at the class of 2015’s graduation ceremony, according to TAP into Westfield.

Outside of teaching, Hornish coached the Westfield girls XC team from 1980 until his retirement. He began coaching at the school as an assistant coach for the boys cross-country team in the mid 1970’s, according to nj.com.

“Thom was a wonderful teacher, mentor and friend to hundreds of Westfield kids,’’ Westfield boys head cross-country and track and field coach Chris Tafelski told nj.com. “He wasn’t just a beloved coach. He was a cornerstone of Westfield High School for four decades. We are all better people for having known him.’’

The Westfield Booster Association posted about Hornish on its Facebook page, saying:

Photo via the Westfield Booster Association Facebook page