The Palisades School District community is mourning the loss of one of its teachers and two of its alumni over the weekend.
Jeremy Donmoyer, a physical education and health teacher at the middle school for the past five years, died Saturday morning. He was on child rearing leave for the 2020-21 school year.
On Friday night, two Palisades alumni, Michael Blackmon, 25, and Nicholas Baruzza, 26, lost their lives in a car accident on Route 563. The crash also resulted in the death of a 24-year-old woman from New Jersey.
Palisades Superintendent Dr. Bridget O’Connell sent the news of the three deaths out to the community via email Sunday, saying “It is with a great deal of regret and sadness that I announce to you two separate events that transpired this weekend.”
Regarding Donmoyer, O’Connell wrote, “Our Palisades middle school family is deeply affected by this loss, and in our sorrow, I ask you to keep his wife and his children in your thoughts.”
The superintendent said school counselors were being made available Monday at the middle school and she said the district’s licensed counselor will be available at the high school to assist staff and students who need support as a result of the death of Blackmon and Baruzza.
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