When he wasn’t in the classroom, former Upper School (US) Science Teacher, Freshman Class Co-Dean and Boys’ Varsity Hockey (BVH) Coach Anthony Moccia ’10 could be seen leading his advisory, skating across the ice at the NAC, or hiking up Mount Monadnock during Bivouac. He left the school in August to take the position of principal at St. Raphael Parish School in Medford. Mr. Moccia coached BVH for seven years and previously played for the team as a US student.

 BVH Co-Captain Ben Romer ’26 remembers the values Mr. Moccia instilled in the team.

 “He was a guy that wanted to inspire you and push you to be not just a better player but a better person,” he said. “He wanted us to be great role models when we grow up and be great parents. He just inspired us to be better, in general.”

 Last season, Mr. Moccia encouraged Ben to step up as one of BVH’s leaders.

 “He took me aside to talk about the possibility of being a captain, and he let me know how much my leadership meant to him,” Ben said. “He let me know that I meant a lot to him, and what I can do is valuable, and just hearing that helped me so much.”

 BVH players were surprised by Mr. Moccia’s sudden departure, Ben said.

 “There were a lot of texts and calls, but people didn’t hate him for it, and nobody knocked him for it. We all respected his decision and knew what was needed for him and his career. We just wish him the best and hope to continue what he started.”

 Athletic Director Jaye Locke said Mr. Moccia connected with his BVH players.

 “Once you’re a part of this community and a part of a team, you always are,” she said. “His care factor for the students and seeing them as a whole, a student and kid, not just who they were on the ice and how they’re shooting a puck or how they are skating, but how they’re carrying themselves, how they’re working in the classroom, how they’re treating each other.”

 Mr. Moccia’s attitude contributed to BVH’s work ethic, Coach Locke said.

 “They would always go hard out there on the ice, and a lot of that is because of Coach Moccia’s positive mindset of getting players to believe in themselves and build up their confidence.”

 This season, former BVH Assistant Coach Cason Hohmann will serve as the interim head coach, and Director of Ice Hockey Ed Bourget will serve as the assistant coach.

 “Coach Hohmann is going to step in for this year, and then, once the school year gets going, we’ll settle, and we’ll have to take the next steps on finding a long-term solution,” Coach Locke said.

 The Science Department learned of Mr. Moccia’s departure over the summer, US Science Department Head Stephanie Guilmet said. Currently, US Science Teacher and Dean of Teaching and Learning Michael Chapman and long-term substitute teacher Glen Cherry are teaching Mr. Moccia’s Scientific Ethics class. Mr. Cherry is also leading Mr. Moccia’s two biology sections.

 “While we are always sad to see a friend and colleague depart the group, we wish him all of the best in his future endeavors,” Ms. Guilmet said. “In the meantime, as we normally would for any faculty departure, we have coverage in place for his responsibilities.”

 Ms. Guilmet said Mr. Moccia’s compassion stood out at the US.

 “Mr. Moccia has a genuine care for his students both in and out of the classroom and enjoyed being involved in the community in as many ways as possible, including academics, athletics and student life. He enjoyed helping students relate their class content to their everyday life and getting them to apply their knowledge in new and creative ways each day.”

 Marwa Benyounes ’28 took Mr. Moccia’s biology class last year.

 “He had a way of explaining things that was really helpful and made it easier to understand the curriculum,” she said. “If I was going to meet with him for some reason, he didn’t make it hard to reach out to him, and that was really special because it allowed me to better understand biology.”

 Marwa didn’t know of Mr. Moccia’s departure until school started.

 “Someone told me that he became the principal of a Catholic school, and I was like, ‘Oh, that’s really good for him,’ but I just wish I knew,” she said. “He taught physics, so I wanted to get him as a teacher, and then I found out he doesn’t teach here anymore.”