He had only taught high school students for just over a year. But it was plenty of time for John-Michael Ritchey to make an impact.
On Monday, the North Cobb Christian School community grieved the loss of the popular English teacher, who died in a camping accident Saturday, and focused on the 23-year-old’s legacy.
“His ability to develop a personal relationship with kids, many of whom he did not even teach, was a true gift from God,” Todd Clingman, NCCS head of school, said in an emailed statement. “His love for the gospel was paramount in his life and his desire to see his students know God and chase after him was his all-consuming life’s desire.”
Ritchey attended NCCS from fifth through ninth grade before graduating from Kennesaw Mountain High School and Liberty University. Ritchey was excited for a chance to return to the school, this time as a teacher. He and his wife, Alex, were also married just over a year ago.
“I love that I get to teach at a place that is concerned with students gaining not only information, but also a rich, truth-seeking, Christ-centered worldview,” Ritchey wrote on his staff page at NCCS.
Ritchey died after falling while hiking in Fannin County, a spokesman for Winkenhofer Pine Ridge Funeral Home said Monday afternoon. The school community was alerted Sunday in a campus-wide email and Facebook post.
"We are grieving as a community at this sudden loss of a beloved teacher, mentor, co-worker, and friend, yet we rejoice in knowing that John-Michael is with our Savior and that together we can proclaim the love of Jesus today and every day," the school posted on its Facebook page.
Families gathered Sunday night at the school’s gym, and upper school students, staff members and school leaders gathered again Monday morning to reflect on Ritchey’s impact. A large rock outside the school was painted and signed with tributes to Ritchey from students.
Visitation for Ritchey will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Kennesaw funeral home. Ritchey’s funeral will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at NorthStar Church, also in Kennesaw, followed by interment in Arlington Memorial Park in Sandy Springs.
High school students will be able to ride buses from school to Ritchey’s funeral, a NCCS spokeswoman said.
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