The 54-year-old’s unexpected death has had a tremendous effect on students, faculty and the community as a whole.

His funeral on Friday, Oct. 26 at the United Methodist Church in Mechanicville drew a large crowd. Schuylerville’s varsity high school football team, the Black Horses, honored the man during their Oct. 27th game by donning a sticker featuring a Maple Leaf with a four-leaf clover in it as well as Hume’s initials on the back of their helmets.

On Tuesday, Nov. 13 a memorial for Hume was held in Schuylerville’s high school auditorium. Approximately 150 people turned out to celebrate his life.

At the memorial, a number of teachers shared their stories about the kind of person Hume was.

In addition, Schuylerville’s Chamber Singers performed two songs, a slide show was projected, and the Symphonic Band played “Across the Field,” the fight song of Hume’s favorite team, the Ohio State Buckeyes.

High School Principal Matt Sickles only knew Hume for a couple of years, but believes the man has left a lasting legacy. Sickles said he was very proud of the students for not only coming up with the idea of having a memorial, but also for putting the entire thing together with very little help from any adults.

“Peter will forever be a part of our school and our family,” he said. “He had a personality that could fill the whole school. He was able to connect with people on a uniquely personal level. The cross section of students he impacted is inspiring and humbling; it was every kind of kid.”

Towards the end of the memorial, Hume’s son Sean presented the school with an official Ohio State jersey, which has Hume’s name on the back of it. It will be presented from here on out in a trophy case at the school.

“I thought it was great,” he said of his father’s memorial. “The students really went above and beyond.”

Bryanna Ekblom, a senior at the high school, was one of the organizers of the event. Ekblom had Hume as a teacher, but also knew him as a neighbor and a close friend of her father.

“He was an amazing person. He was good at what he did. He helped everybody,” she said. “He was just one of those guys you learn to love.”

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?”

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

Superintendent Leon 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.”

Dave Zielnicki, a 12th grade English teacher at the school, knew Hume as a co-worker and a friend for six years. He considers Hume to have been a great mentor not only for the students, but also for himself.

“He took me under his wing and made me feel welcome,” Zielnicki said. “He was a gentleman, always classy. His size was intimidating, but he made people feel comfortable in his presence.”

Nick Leszczynski, a junior at the high school, said Hume had a huge impact on him. Leszczynski believes Hume was one of the best teachers he’s ever had, and considers the man a big part of the reason he passed history his sophomore year.

“I don’t know what I would have done if I hadn’t met him,” Leszczynski said.

Leszczynski read a poem he wrote titled “Who was Mr. Hume?” at the memorial. Leszczynski said he wrote the poem right after he heard about Hume’s passing, as a way to get his feelings down on paper.

“He was the greatest man I’ve ever met. I felt I needed to do something to commemorate him,” Leszczynski said.