Those who knew Mark Thanos weren't surprised that he and his father, John Thanos, plunged into a rain-swollen ditch next to their Chesterton home to help a boy who had been sucked into a culvert.

The teacher, coach and father was simply doing what he did every day of his life. When he heard a cry for help, he answered it.

"What he did, told you what kind of person he was," said his wife, Victoria Thanos, on Monday, the day after her husband and father-in-law drowned attempting to rescue the boy, who survived.

The scene at the Thanoses' home, filled with friends and neighbors, also told you what kind of person he was. In the driveway sat a trailer filled with furniture from their flooded basement, loaded up by athletes who came to lend their support.

Victoria Thanos wanted to make sure people knew how grateful her family is to their friends and neighbors. Inside the house, the gratitude was for the devotion Mark Thanos demonstrated to the young people he coached and taught.

"Mark had a big impact on all of our boys," said Audra Peterson.

"And he treated our kids like he would treat his own," added Bridget Gates.

John Thanos, 18, and Mike Thanos, 14, smiled, recalling their father's encyclopedic knowledge of sports and how handy their grandfather, "Papou," was around the house. They also mentioned how fond their father was of Wheeler High School, where he taught English.

Ironically, this past Friday, The Times' sports section featured John, a senior Chesterton football player. In it, John talked about how much he learned about sports from his father.

"My dad and I had conversations when I was in fifth, sixth grade about concepts that kids don't even get now," he said last week.

On Monday, CHS football coach John Snyder, said "I know that Mark was very proud of that article, as any parent would be."

Thanos coached both his own son and Synder's son in basketball since the fourth grade.

"Mark was good at seeing the potential in a lot of kids," Victoria Thanos said. "Some would see a troublemaker. He would see someone who needs help."

"Does it surprise me he died saving a child?" said Bridget Gates. "Not a bit."

Visitation for Mark and John Thanos will be 1 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Geisen Funeral Home in Merrillville, with funeral services on Thursday. Contributions to an education fund for his sons can be sent to Alexis Thanos Coady, c/o Geisen Funeral Home, 7905 Broadway, Merrillville, IN 46410.