Posted: 4/19/06
NB middle school loses a good friend
 The passing of ìMr Gî will leave a hole in the lives of the students and staff at the NBMS. |
By Patrick Tepoorten
In a Monday morning press release, the North Branch Area school district announced the untimely passing of 8th-grade teacher Roger Gryskiewicz, 54, who passed away at his home in Forest Lake on Saturday, April 15. The district referred to Gryskiewicz as ìa true educator and friend to many who will be greatly missed,î and Superintendent Rodney Reisnouer said Gryskiewicz ìalways had a smile and a charisma that drew you in.î
How Gryskiewicz died is unknown at this time, but Community Relations Coordinator Sara Thompson has stated that an autopsy will be performed to determine the cause of death.
Generally referred to as ìMr. Gî by students and staff alike, Gryskiewicz had been a teacher in North Branch since 1973.
In a letter sent home with students, middle school principal Todd Tetzlaff stated, ìMr. G has touched the lives of countless staff members and students over the years and will be greatly missed...î
Gryskiewiczís long tenure in North Branch means that the sense of loss for his passing is being felt across generational lines.
ìWe have many parents who had Mr. G as their teacher and whose children now have Mr. G as well,î said Tetzlaff who added that Gryskiewicz passing will be experienced by the whole community.
Vince Erickson, a sixth -grade teacher and 25-year friend of Gryskiewicz had nothing but glowing praise for ìMr. G.î ìRoger could get along with anybody. He was so easy to talk to and connected well with students and adults alike. He was quick-witted and always had a joke for anyone who needed picking up.î
Erickson, who along with the rest of the middle school was dealing with MCA testing as well as the loss of Gryskiewicz on Tuesday, added, ìthis is a big loss and it will take some time to grieve. He was so full of life and would give anything he owned to anybody who needed it. He would give the shirt off of his back.î
Mr. Gís eighth - grade science teaching partner, Ron Johanson, knew Gryskiewicz for 28 years and remembered his hobbies. ìRoger was a great outdoorsman. He loved hunting and fishing but he never cared if he caught anything.î
Johanson also remembered Gryskiewiczís character. ìRoger taught more than science. He helped kids out. He gave left and right. He would buy kids lunch and never asked for anything back.
ìHe was also really good at picking out kids with lower self-esteem, the quiet kids hanging out in the background. By the end of the year they would be laughing and joking around. He always brought them out of their shell.î
Johanson pointed out fondly the many times Gryskiewicz would toss a student a $20 bill on their birthday and say ìgo get yourself something nice.î
Middle school special education instructor Ed Hendricks recently spent a week in Mexico with Gryskiewicz. ìWherever we would go, all of a sudden Roger was talking to everybody. By the end of the week we knew half of the resort. People would come up to me and say, ëYou must be Rogerís friend from Minnesota.î
A former student remembered Gryskiewicz for his exceptional teaching style. ìHe was so easy to learn from and he knew how to make his class fun.î
Counselors from the high school and the middle school, as well as school psychologists and members of the ministerium were at the middle school on Monday to assist those in need of grief services. Students were also encouraged to express themselves by making posters and sympathy cards.
Memorial services have been scheduled for Wednesday, April 19, at NBHS. A private memorial will be held at 4:30 p.m.; public visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. and a public memorial service will be held at 7 p.m.
Comment from Katie Hasleiet, 4/24/06
My thoughts and prayers are with Mr. G's family. I had him in eighth grade and am now a sophomore in college and to this day remember what a wonderful caring man he was. He has touched my life as well as my sister who had him at the time of this tragic loss. He was a caring, funny and loving man who has touched the lives of everyone who has come across him and my prayers continue to go out to his family. I will never forget him.
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