A tough, but much-loved, Morton East High School English teacher died earlier this month and fellow educators and students are mourning his loss.

Robert Antus, 63, of Elmhurst, died Oct. 8 at his home. Antus had worked as a teacher at the Cicero high school for 33 years, 26 of which were spent inside the same classroom. Autopsy results are not yet final, but preliminary investigations indicate his death was from natural causes, DuPage County Coroner Peter Siekmann said.

“He was my favorite teacher by far,” said senior Kevin Wolers, who took Antus’ honors English class. “He told us not to rush in anything. To take transitions in life – you live longer that way.”

Former student Mark Karadimos, who has worked at Morton East as a math teacher since 1993, is in the unique position to have known Antus as both a teacher and co-worker. Antus was very strict, Karadimos said, and wanted to ensure that students learned meaningful lessons.

“I remember him writing and writing and writing with chalk on the chalkboard,” he said. “Clouds of chalk dust. There would be chalk on his pants, chalk on his shirt ... That was just his trademark.”

Antus graduated from Northwestern University in 1969, according to alumni records. He was an author and poet. He also was listed in six editions of “Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers.” College alumni records show Antus was awarded the bronze star for meritorious achievement for his service in the Vietnam War.

Antus performed dramatic readings each year of “Gunga Din,” by Rudyard Kipling. He always forewarned the class when he would read it to them.

“He’d say ‘I’m going to read it with a lot of emotion. I want to make sure you’re all listening and not laughing,’” Karadimos said. “He had put in a lot of effort, to the point when he was done reading it he had to leave the room. It was like he was spent.”

Morton East Principal Frank Zarate Jr., said Antus leaves behind a son, Robert Antus Jr., who works as an actor in California, and a brother. Staff members plan this year to affix a plaque outside his classroom to commemorate Antus.