Early Thursday morning, Okemos Public Schools learned they had lost an educational leader. 68 Year-Old Bob Cooley, a retired physical education teacher in Okemos, was one of three people killed in an accident along US 127 Monday.
Superintendent of Okemos Schools, Catherine Ash says he was much more than a gym teacher.
"He was everything you could want in a teacher and friend," said Okemos Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Catherine Ash.
Caring, genuine and fun are just a few words Superintendent Catherine Ash says you could use to describe physical education teacher Bob Cooley.
"Being a positive role model for students that was 43 years of his life," Ash said.
A life that was spent inside Kinawa and Bennet Woods elementary schoolbefore retiring last year and Ash says he never missed a beat.
"He never lost his energy, his desire to be the best, his belief in fitness," the Superintendent said.
He was the first physical education teacher for the district and in 2004 received the state's highest honor, the Michigan teacher of the year award.
Ash says it's his dedication to teaching that should be remembered.
"It was a very well deserved award that recognized him for his contributions to our school and school community."
Superintendent ash said students at Bennet Woods were not notified of Mr. Cooley's passing,thinking it would be better to send out an email district wide to let parents handle the situation on their own.
"Children at different ages handle this type of news differently and we felt that was importantthat families have the opportunity, because they know their children the best, to have these conversations."
Conversations that Ash hopes will include the legacy of a man who touched hundreds of lives in the way he taught and the way he lived.
A husband and wife from Elsie were also killed in the crash, Larry and Wilda Salzwedel.
Police are looking to autopsy reports for answers on why the crash occurred.
