The following is a NY Daily News article: A Brooklyn man was remembered as a devoted teacher who would tutor students for free if their families couldn’t afford it, friends said.
Moshe Berkowitz, 25, died Monday night after a boozed-up driver ran a red light and slammed into him on Ocean Ave. in Brooklyn, police said.
Students at Yeshiva Birchas Shmuel, where he taught middle school English, bravely memorialized Berkowitz Wednesday at his funeral. Joseph Minzer, 13, was one of dozens of mourners who packed the Yeshiva Ohr Yitzchok in Midwood.
“He was the nicest, greatest person I’ve ever known,” Joseph said. “He was always trying to help me with my problems and with things I didn’t understand.”
Berkowitz was killed when Anel Kolenovic, 23, barreled into him head-on about 11:35 p.m. Kolenovic was charged with DWI, manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide and ignoring a red light.
Police were investigating whether the suspected drunk driver and his friends were racing before the crash.
A witness said the driver and a passenger reeked of alcohol at the scene, and a police source put Kolenovic’s blood alcohol level at more than double the legal limit.
“We miss seeing him around,” Orel Partush, 13, said of the beloved teacher. “He was a very lively person, always energetic. He would always help people and play sports with us.”
Known to students as “Moe,” Berkowitz was a great football player and liked to break dance at school events.
His father, Jack Berkowitz, said his son has gone “to a better place.”
“I’m going to miss you,” the dad said. “Even when I was at work, I didn’t care about anything else but seeing you.”
Click HERE for photos taken for YWN at the Levaya.
(Source: NY Daily News)
4 Responses
NYSID: 01785737Y
DIN: 08R2832
Inmate Name: KOLENOVIC,ANEL
Aggregated Minimum Sentence: 01-06
Aggregated Maximum Sentence: 03-00
Release Date: 11/20/2009
Release Type: CR
Housing/Release Facility: ALTONA
Parole Eligibility Date: 5/20/2009
Conditional Release Date: 11/20/2009
Maximum Expiration Date: 11/20/2010
Parole ME Date: 11/20/2010
Post Release Supervision ME Date:
Parole Board Discharge Date: 11/20/2010
Crime of Conviction Class County of Commitment
GRAND LARCENY-4 E NASSAU
So this drunk Russian was out celebrating his recent release from jail for thieving. In the process he murdered an innocent bystander. There is only one way to protect society from people like him and that is to lock them up until they die. They will not reform themselves. Thinking otherwise is simply pandering to the dregs of society. Thanks to you election2012 for keeping tabs on the situation.
Moshe will be truly missed by all. He was a great guy and always had a smile on his face and now he sits next to the Ribonoh Shel Olam.
BDE
Moshe was a beloved friend and mentor to so many. His contributions will be sorely missed and grieved.