Family of beloved teacher killed in crash remembers him as family man, mentor


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OREM — The family of a beloved teacher who died in a car crash earlier in the week is thanking the community for showing support during their time of mourning, and remember their loved one as a family man and mentor.

Dylan Thornton, 34, was a history teacher at Vista Heights Middle School in Saratoga Springs. Last Tuesday morning while heading to work, Thornton died after the vehicle he was driving collided with a flatbed truck during a seven-car crash on northbound I-15.

"They just said he was in the crash and we are just sorry to tell you that he didn't make it,” said Thornton's wife, Emily.

The family has been by each other's sides since, receiving support from the community, including messages from Thornton's former students.

"I don't think any of us had any idea about the impact he left on our community," said Thornton’s sister, Kelsey Tucker.

Remembering her brother, she said Thornton’s personality could light up a room.

“He was just an outgoing person,” she said. “He loved all things technology, and sci-fi, and Star Trek, and especially Star Wars.”

Thornton had a passion for history, Tucker said, which led him to teach the subject.

“He should have been on ‘Jeopardy,’” she said.

Tucker said a former high school football coach/teacher influenced Thornton to one day go into teaching.

“In high school, there was a coach named Marc McKenney who coached him and taught him at Timpanogos High School in Orem. Coach McKenney became a large mentor on him. He (McKenney) ended up passing away when we were in high school. That’s when Dylan wanted to be a teacher.”

Thornton was an instant friend to all who met him, Tucker said.

“More so of just being that teacher role, he was a friend,” she said. “He was someone that people instantly felt comfortable with, and a lot of it had to do with his sense of humor.”

And it was Thornton’s sense of humor that kept his demeanor positive.

“You rarely saw Dylan having a bad day,” Tucker said. “Even if he was, he didn’t show it.”

Dylan Thornton's family (Photo: KSL TV)
Dylan Thornton's family (Photo: KSL TV)

Mentoring students was one of Thornton’s favorite things, Tucker detailed.

“I think he was able to get on a level with students and understand the different backgrounds they were coming from or the different trials that they were facing in their lives,” she said. “He just knew how to connect with them. He genuinely cared about their lives and how they were doing, always.”

Tucker said the center of Thornton’s life was his wife and his son, Cooper. The couple adopted Cooper last year after trying to have kids on their own.

“Other than his teaching, they were the center of his life,” Tucker said. “He was an extraordinary father. He grasped onto that from day one. He was such a good husband to Emily. He loved Emily and Cooper."

Emily Thornton said she knew her husband was going to be a great dad from day one.

"The first time Dylan held Cooper, just a light sparked in his eyes I have never seen, and he from day one was an amazing dad,” she said. “He was just a great dad, always on the floor rolling around and playing with him.”

The family of a beloved teacher who died in a car crash earlier in the week is thanking the community for showing support during their time of mourning, as well as remembering their loved one as a family man and mentor. (Photo: Family photo)
The family of a beloved teacher who died in a car crash earlier in the week is thanking the community for showing support during their time of mourning, as well as remembering their loved one as a family man and mentor. (Photo: Family photo)

Tucker said her brother’s legacy will be of love, kindness and happiness to all those around.

“It’s going to be a huge void to fill his shoes,” she said. “You could not help but love him. He just was a person who always made you feel valued and loved, and I think he’s going to leave this legacy of love and friendship and just genuine care for other people.

“Dylan never thought of himself first, it was always someone else. He truly, truly cared to the core what people were feeling or needing. He truly cared.”

The family’s hope is that Dylan Thornton’s memory lives on.

"Even though he lived such a short life, it was so meaningful and he did so much good in that short time for so many people," Emily Thornton said tearfully. “He made you believe in yourself and that's what I loved most about him.”

Thronton’s family told KSL they will be wearing Star Wars shirts for his viewing on Sunday because he was a huge fan.

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