Beloved DeLaSalle teacher Jeremy Zavitz dies at 45 after long battle with cancer

In his early 20s, Jeremy Zavitz made a deal with God.

Zavitz vowed that if God took care of the recently diagnosed brain cancer, Zavitz would dedicate his life to teaching. And that is exactly what he did for more than a dozen years, touching the lives of hundreds of Minneapolis students.

After a 24-year battle with the cancer, Zavitz, 45, a beloved teacher at DeLaSalle High School, died on Feb. 22.

“Even in the midst of it all, he was teaching to the end,” said Martin Marrin, a friend and colleague. “He was teaching us how to live to the very end.”

A memorial service to honor Zavitz’s life will be held on March 7 at DeLaSalle High School with visitation starting at 12:30 p.m..

A Minnesota native, Zavitz graduated from Orono High School before attending the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, where he received degrees in history and teaching. An avid athlete, he played soccer and hockey.

Zavitz worked as a real estate agent and later as a business development manager, according to his LinkedIn page. But he found his calling in January 2012, when he began his career as a student teacher at DeLaSalle, working alongside social studies teachers including Marrin.

“He was your teacher and like your best friend, even if he didn’t know you very well,” said James O’Brien, a fourth-year student.

Zavitz’s teaching style was rooted in a belief in the power of connection. He saw education as more than transmitting knowledge; it was about building relationships and fostering an environment that allowed students to enjoy learning.

“Instead of teaching, it was more like storytelling,” said Beela Kelly, a fourth-year student. “His classes were always fun. And he was very energetic.”

His students and colleagues remember him as a teacher who led with authenticity and heart. His commitment to his students, teaching and family never wavered, even during his battles with cancer.

“He would always listen and always be engaged,” said Caleb Moberg, a fourth-year student. “It showed he cared.”

In summer 2023, following months of radiation, Zavitz chaperoned a group of students on a school trip to Spain. Determined to bring home a soccer jersey for his son while in Barcelona, he had to run back to retrieve one of the prized shirts, recounts O’Brien.

“No matter what was going to happen, Eddie was going to get that jersey,” Marrin said.

Zavitz continued to teach and mentor students until the very end, planning to return to DeLaSalle in the spring after taking the fall semester off to focus on his health. Despite the challenges he faced, his commitment to his students never faltered.

“I feel like I’ve truly never met someone that is so caring of every person that he’s around,” said Anjali Felicetta, a fourth-year student. “I never once doubted how genuine he was. And I feel like he really taught me the importance of listening to people and listening to their stories and just being a genuinely caring person.”

On a bitterly cold Saturday in late January, about 1,000 students, family, and friends gathered to celebrate Zavitz’s life and legacy. Dozens lined up to speak to him — some students waited more than two hours for the chance to thank him for the impact he had on their lives.

That was the last time most students saw him, but Zavitz’s legacy continues to be felt through the halls of DeLaSalle. On a recent day, candles and cards surrounded his framed picture as part of a community memorial at the front of the school.

“Jeremy was three great things,” Marrin said. “He was a great teacher. He is an amazing husband and an amazing father. At the end of the day, he figured out who he was and did a great job being himself, being authentic.”