Loss of beloved teacher

The Elementary School will remain open, but substitutes are being provided for staff members who wish to attend.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in Mechanicville.

Classes and other activities are set to resume on Monday, Oct. 29.

Hume passed away Monday, Oct. 22 in his sleep. He was 54. An autopsy revealed he died of natural causes.

“It was very unexpected,” Superintendent Leon Reed said.

Upon hearing the news of Hume’s passing, Schuylerville’s crisis team immediately met to develop a plan to help students and teachers cope with the loss. At approximately 9 a.m. on Tuesday, members of the administrative team and the student services team circulated to all Jr.-Sr. High School classes to inform students.

The library has been designated as a crisis center where the counseling staff can provide support to grieving students. Communications Coordinator Kim Smithgall said many students are taking advantage of this opportunity, and the district will continue to make this resource available as long as necessary.

“Peter dedicated his life to teaching,” Smithgall said. “The entire Schuylerville community will mourn the loss of this very special teacher and friend.”

Hume had worked with students at Schuylerville Jr.-Sr. High School since 1999. He’d previously taught in Stillwater, Shenendehowa, Voorheesville and Troy.

“He was well-known in this area. This is going to have a huge impact,” Reed said.

Fans of the 1979 comedy “Meatballs,” starring Bill Murray, will always hold a special place in their heart for Hume, who played a character known as “The Stomach.” During a hot dog eating contest, he speaks one of the movie’s most famous lines, “What, no mustard?”

Reed knew Hume pretty well. They had worked together closely when Hume completed an administrative internship at the school during the 1993-94 school year.

“He was a very popular teacher with a wonderful sense of humor. A big man who lived life large,” Reed said. “He was just a great guy.”

Schuylerville’s varsity high school football team will honor Hume by donning a sticker on the back of their helmets during their next game. Since Hume was Canadian and Irish, Coach Greg O’Connor said the sticker will be a Maple Leaf with a four-leaf clover in it and also contain Hume’s initials.

Schuylerville’s Black Horses will face the Watervliet Cannoneers at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 27 at Watervliet. Both teams are 7-1.

For more information, call the Superintendent’s Office at 695-3255, ext. 3242.