BUFFALO, NY - Students at Lancaster Middle School returned to class Monday for their first day back since the sudden death of a respected teacher in the district.
That teacher was with two other men on Lake Erie Saturday night when their boat hit the breakwall.
A spokesperson for Lancaster schools tells 2 On Your Side that grief counselors, social workers, and psychologists were at Lancaster Middle School to help students as the district copes with the loss of Eric Przykuta, a longtime seventh grade science teacher, former lacrosse coach, and teachers union president.
On Saturday night, the Coast Guard says Przykuta was with two other men when their boat hit the breakwall near the Small Boat Harbor. The school district says Przykuta had been fishing before the incident. First responders went to the scene shortly after 11 p.m.
Late Monday, Lancaster Police Chief Gerry Gill confirmed to 2 On Your Side that the two other men with Przykuta were off-duty Lancaster police officers - Shaun Zaffram, an officer who has been in the department since 2009, and Michael Cronin, a lieutenant, who has been with the department since 1995.
Gill says that one of his officers was driving the boat, and that they are avid fisherman and are "distraught" over the incident.
The Coast Guard says none of the three men on board the boat were wearing life vests..
Buffalo Police are now leading an investigation into what happened and are waiting on toxicology results - a standard in many investigations.
In Lancaster, friends and colleagues are remembering Przykuta as an active and widely respected member of the community. John Abraham Jr., a teacher at Lancaster High and a friend of Przykuta's tweeted: "RIP Eric Pryzkuta! You were a fierce advocate of students & teachers alike. Your leadership will be greatly missed."
The district says Przykuta was part of a family of teachers. His dad is a retired Lancaster teacher and his brother still teaches at Lancaster Middle.
Przykuta is survived by his wife and two children. Wake arrangements are being made, and a memorial service will be held at Lancaster High Saturday morning.
