When describing one's likes and interests, it's easy to fall back on the phrase "had a passion for." However, there are many other expressions that can be used to convey the same meaning. For example, you might say that someone "was enamored with" a particular subject, or that they "had a deep love of" it. Alternatively, you could say that they "were obsessed with" it, or that they "had an unbridled enthusiasm for" it. Whatever words you choose, the important thing is to describe one's passion in a way that is both vivid and evocative. So, it's always good to find and use other words for "had a passion for" to make your writing more interesting.