At Fort Hamilton High School, piano accompaniment and voices can be heard from Room 108, where all vocal classes occur daily. A key figure throughout these vocal classes was Mr. Robert Lanaghan, who led his choruses to success in competitions such as Festival Disney and at biannual concerts during the school year for over two decades prior to his retirement in February 2024.
On May 9th, 2024, it was announced to the Fort Hamilton community that Mr. Lanaghan had passed away. This news came suddenly to the Fort community, especially to his vocal students.
“His passing hit a lot of us hard when we were informed,” said senior Selina Shiu.
Though the news was heartbreaking, the Fort Hamilton community remembered fond memories they had of their vocal teacher.
“Mr. Lanaghan was the reason I decided to join the All City Chorus this year, which brought me many great opportunities, and I got to learn more about music making,” Shiu said. “Outside of music, you [could] ask him anything and he would give great advice and speak with honesty. He was always very kind and understanding.”
Other students remembered the way Mr. Lanaghan eased the transition to in-person learning in September 2021.
“Coming back from COVID, live theater was something that was slow to return,” said Adriana Zajac, who graduated from Fort Hamilton in 2022. “But Mr. Lanaghan helped the rehearsal process to be fun, educational, and so rewarding. I’ll always be so thankful for the time we spent in the rehearsal room together, and that he helped make my senior show such a fond memory.”
Mr. Lanaghan’s passion for singing and teaching music lingers most with the students he taught.
“The best memory I have of him by far is listening to him sing the descant in ‘Born This Way’ for our Pride performance in 2023,” said Lauren Vega, who graduated just last year. “He was always passionate about what he did alongside us. His love for his job and his students was fierce, and we all felt it.”
Dramatics director Mr. Coulter, a longtime friend and colleague of Mr. Lanaghan, fondly remembered the years he spent working alongside him. “Some of the great times I had with Mr. Lanaghan was our collaboration on musicals and on events through the vocal program,” Mr. Coulter said. “Mr. Lanaghan and I would have great battles back and forth over how he wanted something to be done one way and how I wanted something to be done another, but we would always come to some conclusion where it was best for the kids.”
News of Mr. Lanaghan’s passing came at a pivotal time for many of the vocal students. “His passing encouraged us to do better in Concert Chorus and get our act together for the Spring Concert,” Shiu said. “It was in honor of him, and the songs that were chosen, especially ‘Weep No More,’ were chosen by him. We wanted to tell a story about an amazing teacher and his legacy.”
Several alumni from previous years attend the concert, reuniting and reminiscing on their time with Mr. Lanaghan. “Going to the Spring Concert, knowing Mr. Lanaghan wouldn’t be there, was a weird experience,” Vega said. “Seeing how many of my fellow classmates show up in his memory was so powerful…he touched all of our lives.”
Mr. Lanaghan’s impact on the Fort community cannot be forgotten. “The kids have shared that spirit with him, and it’s in the classroom and in their work,” Mr. Coulter said.
