Lancaster Schools remember beloved teacher killed in boat accident

The Lancaster Central School District (LCSD) is remembering Eric Przykuta, a 43-year-old science teacher and lacrosse coach, who died in a boat crash Saturday night.

Przykuta taught in the district for nearly 20 years and also served as the Lancaster Central Teachers Association (LCTA) president for the past 10 years. He was a 7th grade science teacher and coached the modified lacrosse team.

Today @LCTA_NY lost our friend, brother, and President Eric Przykuta. As Eric has shown us, this is the time when we are needed. We will be there for him. We will be there for each other. We will be there for his family - they are our family.

— LCTA (@LCTA_NY) May 13, 2018

“He was a highly respected teacher at Lancaster Middle School, regarded as an advocate for children, both in the classroom and on the athletic field,” Peter Kruszynski, Lancaster Middle School principal, said in a statement. “As president of the LCTA, and on a personal level, he was respected by peers and administrators alike.”

RIP Eric Pryzkuta! You were a fierce advocate of students & teachers alike. Your leadership will be greatly missed. @LCTA_NY 😞 pic.twitter.com/s3AKpzqcZA

— John Abraham, Jr. (@JohnAbrahamJr) May 13, 2018

“Eric always put others before himself," Donald Kirsch, LCTA Vice President, said in a statement. "He was the first to show up for anyone in need. His passion for the teachers and students of Lancaster was unmatched. He was a true friend and we will miss him.”

LCSD will have grief counselors and other emotional support staff present in all buildings Monday.

A memorial service will be held Saturday May 19, at 9:30 a.m. in the Lancaster High School auditorium.

Przykuta was fishing with two people around 11 p.m. Saturday when the boat crashed into a breakwall near the Small Boat Harbor off Fuhrmann Boulevard, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. The two other boaters were rescued safely and taken to the hospital as a precaution. No one on board was wearing a life jacket, according to Coast Guard officials.