A days-long search for a missing New Jersey teacher concluded Tuesday, December 10, when recovery teams located his body in his submerged vehicle in the Passaic River, authorities reported.
Brian Kolakowski, 37, a physical education teacher at Washington Middle School and girls’ tennis coach at Harrison High School in Harrison, New Jersey, was reported missing on December 4.
Security camera footage revealed Kolakowski’s Volkswagen Jetta entering the Passaic River via a boat ramp at the Frank Vincent Marina in Kearny at 4:29 a.m. on the day he was reported missing.
Recovery efforts faced significant challenges as the vehicle drifted south from the marina before overturning and sinking. Teams confronted adverse weather conditions and poor underwater visibility during the multi-day operation.
The Kearny Police Department stated there was no evidence suggesting criminal activity or any threat to public safety.
Kolakowski, a resident of North Arlington, New Jersey, and affectionately known as “Kola,” had been teaching since 2010 and recently received recognition as the North Jersey Inter Scholastic Conference Meadowlands Coach of the Year.
Under his leadership, the Harrison High School Girls Tennis Team secured the NJIC Meadowlands League Championship this season.
The Superintendent of Harrison Public Schools, Maureen Kroog, and Personnel Director James Doran, who additionally acts as a Councilman for the Town of Harrison, released a statement expressing their sadness over the loss. They wrote to the parents of students that Mr. Kolakowski was recognized for his steadfast dedication, kindness, and the positive influence he had on everyone within the Harrison School District. They emphasized that his departure is a profound loss not only for the schools but for the entire community as well.
Harrison Public Schools has made counseling services available to students and staff.
