PENN HILLS, Pa. — The Penn Hills community is remembering a beloved social studies teacher, father and mentor who was killed in a crash along the Parkway East on Friday.
Josh Willy worked at the Penn Hills school district for 23 years.
High School junior Chase Delehanty, 17, said his social studies teacher had a way with coworkers and parents, but especially with his students.
“I liked him a lot as a teacher, personally,” Delehanty said. “He was very transparent with his students. He was a great guy. He helped, like if you had a question, he was a good guy to talk to. He was good. He was there for you as a teacher.”
The 49-year-old educator also had a sense of humor.
“He was just a silly, joking guy,” said Delehanty. “He was nice.”
State police are investigating the crash. Willy died Friday morning after police said he veered off the Parkway East just past the Squirrel Hill Tunnel and went over a guardrail. His car plunged more than 80 feet into the ravine below.
Drone 11 showed crews working to pull the car out of a creek.
DRONE 11 PHOTOS: Car goes off Parkway East, drops 80 feet into ravine near Squirrel Hill Tunnel
“It was a sad event,” Delehanty said. “My condolences to his family. I hope everyone is doing okay.”
They said his dedication to kids was felt way beyond the classroom. He was a loving father, devoted youth baseball and basketball coach and a gifted program coordinator, where he helped students like Delehanty for several years.
“A bunch of times, I was able to go talk to him about any college concerns I could have had, anything. He was the best guy to do that,” Delehanty said.
Counselors were available for students and families at the high school on Saturday afternoon and will be on hand again next week.
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