“He’s lived more lives than a cat,” Upper School math teacher Chris van Benthuysen said, describing the longest-serving member of his department, math teacher and Project Week Coordinator Ed Mahoney.

Indeed, though he’s taught at Latin for 22 years, Mr. Mahoney’s path to the school spans copious continents and careers—not a remotely linear road. “I kind of stumbled into teaching,” he said. “I didn’t know that that’s what I wanted to do, ever.”

Along the way, he worked in construction, finance, restaurants, and photography. He traveled to refugee camps, shipyards, forests, and Japanese ports. Every story builds the same awed sense among those who know him.

“Every time some random story about something pops up that’s unrelated, he’ll be like, ‘Oh, yeah, I did that for six months,’” Mr. van Benthuysen said.

Mr. Mahoney believes his parents instilled this emphasis on exploration. His mom, born in Bolivia, moved to Germany when she was young; his dad, an Irish Catholic, met her after joining the priesthood and travelling to Bolivia.

Growing up in a diverse neighborhood on Chicago’s North Side, Mr. Mahoney steeped in the stories of his parents, and they shaped the person he became. “They modeled the learning that happened for them through exploring different parts of the world and different cultures,” he said.

The qualities that have influenced his storied professional life now work their way into his own family as well. Mr. Mahoney’s daughter, Maya Mahoney ‘23, described the motivation behind this exploration. “He’s super adventurous,” she said. “He wants to learn as much as he can in the amount of time he’s given.”

For Maya and her sister, Kira Mahoney ‘25, spending time with their dad often meant spending time outdoors on one of these adventures. Biking, rock climbing, fishing, slacklining—the Mahoneys took on all of these activities together, and more.

Mr. Mahoney even made the mundane things fun, like morning walks to school with kindergarten Maya or Kira. “Every day he’d walk us from the Lincoln Park Zoo, but instead of walking, we would skateboard,” Maya said. “And as a kid—you’re 5 years old—you can’t really skate quite yet. So he would hold us along.”

His long list of experiences adds to his teaching ability, allowing him to empathize with many perspectives. “He just has seen the world through so many different lenses that it’s an invaluable asset to have within the department,” Mr. van Benthuysen said.

This energy comes across in his role as Project Week coordinator as well. Co-coordinator and Upper School Spanish teacher Xavier Espejo-Vadillo spoke to Mr. Mahoney’s dynamic work style as one of his greatest strengths.

“He’s always thinking. He walks around with his iPad a lot,” Mr. Espejo-Vadillo said. “And sometimes, out of the blue, he’s thinking about a Project Week; he’s making notes in one of his notebooks, and then when we ever talk or meet, he’s pulling those things out.”

For his students, the real-world focus picked up from his real-life experience helps put skills in context. One former student and teaching assistant, Michael Cardoza ‘24, spoke to Mr. Mahoney’s unique classroom style in his Finance & Math 1 and Finance & Math 2 courses.

“For the most part, class is completely project-based,” Michael said. “While there is conceptual (and even historical) learning, most of the actual education comes in the form of concept application. Not only that, but the application is wildly practical.”

This practicality serves students well past the conclusion of a single class. Maya said, “I know a lot of kids who’ve talked to me about how that class really influenced buying a car or getting a credit card for the first time.”

For his colleagues, the use cases for Mr. Mahoney’s knowledge are just as vast. Mr. van Benthuysen sees his insight present itself in departmental discussions regularly. “Lots of members of my department—when we’re in conversation about something, debating something philosophical, or something like that—will offer a perspective that’s one I had not considered, and it will open my eyes,” he said. “He’s the one that does that more often than anybody else in the department.”

And Mr. Mahoney is far from done. “He continues to dream up all these adventures that he wants to do for himself,” Kira said. “He wants to climb more mountains; he wants to go on kayaking trips. I think he’s going on a fishing trip with his friend this weekend.”