Joe Sweeney had the tough look of a Marine veteran, but beneath that exterior was a person who cared deeply about his students and his community.

“He was big as a house, and had a heart of gold,” said Jim Laub.

Sweeney, who taught 18 years at Panther Valley, died last week after falling ill earlier this school year.

In his most recent position at Panther Valley, Title I math teacher, Sweeney didn’t teach just one single class. He got to know every student in the fourth grade, which meant that every student in the school knew him.

“He really enjoyed teaching. It was evident it was a passion of his,” said David McAndrew Jr., superintendent of Panther Valley School District.

His passion for helping youth extended beyond the classroom - he was a longtime baseball and football coach. And he devoted countless hours to the Toys for Tots program as a member and past commander of Marine Corps League Detachment 626.

Each year, the Detachment collects and distributes toys to needy families around Carbon and Eastern Schuylkill counties.

Laub said that Sweeney’s death leaves a big void with the organization. He was one of the most enthusiastic volunteers, always ready to help out. He would help buy toys, pick them up from groups making donations, and prepare for them to be distributed.

Sweeney battled through multiple cancer diagnoses. But even when he wasn’t feeling his best, he gave his time to the Toys for Tots doing what he could.

“The world needs more people like him. He loved what he did, teaching those kids. And then in his spare time, he was helping them,” Laub said.

He of course coordinated Toys for Tots in the Panther Valley School District. This year, the district plans to continue participating in the program in his memory.

Sweeney was the second Panther Valley Intermediate School teacher to die in the last two weeks. The two deaths were unrelated but have hit the district hard.

The district is planning a memorial walk in the coming weeks to remember Sweeney and his teaching colleague, Bob Krzywicki. In the meantime they are pulling together to get through the loss of two dedicated educators.

“We’re relying on each other to get through it. We’re a close knit group, and we’ll take it one day at a time until we’re through it,” McAndrew said.

Sweeney leaves behind two daughters, as well as his mother and three siblings. Graveside services are set to take place at 3 p.m. Monday at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery.