During the third weekend of December, the AMS community was rocked by a shocking loss: our beloved music teacher Mr. Agosto passed away on Saturday, December 14th, 2025.
For three years, Harold Agosto has been working in AMS to teach all students about the beauty of making music and giving us valuable lessons. Mr. Agosto was born on January 14, 1986 and was raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He graduated from high school in his hometown and decided to go off to the university of Puerto Rico. He always had a passion for music, specifically for drums. He is survived by his wife, Melissa Zapata; daughter, Madison Agosto-Zapata; mother, Verónica Cruz; and brothers Jonathan Agosto Cruz and Christian Agosto Cruz. He was preceded in death by his father, Iluminado Agosto.
Mr. Agosto would always be talking about his loving daughter, Madison, that he loves very much. We felt like we knew her from the beautiful and silly memories Mr. Agosto would share with us. He would always have us laughing in class if it was before lunch and he was sharing his plan of going to Leslie’s.
Math teacher Ryan D’Angelo worked closely with Mr. Agosto while teaching photography. He recalls bonding over the difficulties of teaching, F1 racing, and arguing about the most evil Disney villain. When asked what he would say to Mr. Agosto, if given the chance, Mr. D’Angelo said, “That’s 100% easy. Thank you for everything you do. Thanks for everything you do. I did not express my appreciation for what he did.” San Simón, an NYC based Afro-Caribbean soul music group posted on Instagram, “He was…ALWAYS on time to everything, read music very quickly and was a great father. He was a rock wherever he landed, and that stays with those who knew him well over the years. We will miss you deeply Harold! …Your family and friends loved you.”
When Mr. Agosto’s death was announced on Monday, December 16th, there was an outpouring of grief. Middle and high school students gathered in the library to be supported by Ms. Chung and our social workers, Ms. Cole, Ms. Rojas, and Ms. Ayala. They wrote their wishes on cards and on a poster. The wall outside the music room has been transformed into a tribute wall, with a portrait of Mr. Agosto drawn by Jay Ayala, a Junior.
Mr. Agosto left an indelible mark on our hearts and we will never forget him.