Counselors at Lincoln Southeast High School say Tom Christiansen, an art and photography teacher, passed away Friday.

Southeast Principal Dr. Pat Hunter-Pirtle says Christiansen fell ill and collapsed at school. He was taken to the hospital where he later died. School officials did not say how Christiansen passed away.

The counselors were on hand Friday night at the high school to meet and talk with students, parents and staff.

Christiansen was the art department chair and the counselors say he loved photography.

Counselors say he was a well liked teacher who was friendly, funny, easy going. Christiansen also loved to golf. They say he would make jokes about retiring, but never did.

Dr. Hunter-Pirtle describes Christiansen as, "Just a great man, very even keeled, great sense of humor, kids really liked him. Teachers have started sharing with me some of the things that are on Facebook about him that graduates have written about. He really loved photography, did pottery, pushed kids, had 'em think creatively."

He is a father of two, graduated from Lincoln Pius X. He started teaching at Southeast High School in 1988 before that he taught at Dawes Middle School.