Obituaries
'Good Man With A Huge Heart': Friends Remember NYC Terror Victim
Drake, 32, a project manager for Moody's, died Tuesday when a truck careened down a bike path on New York's West Side, killing 8 people.
NEW MILFORD, NJ — Darren S. Drake was working on his second master's degree when he was one of eight people killed in a terror attack in New York City Tuesday.
Drake, 32, former president of the New Milford Board of Education, died after a terrorist attack on Manhattan's lower West Side.
Drake was a project manager for Moody's.
Find out what's happening in New Milfordfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Drake graduated from New Milford High School in 2003. He earned a bachelor's degree in Political Science from Rutgers University's School of Arts and Sciences and a master's degree in Management Information Systems from Fairleigh Dickinson University, his obituary states.
Michael A. Polizzi, New Milford superintendent of schools, said Drake served on the board for four years, from July 2009 to June 2013. He held the vice-president chair for two years.
Find out what's happening in New Milfordfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
New Jersey Family, Neighbors Remember Darren Drake
"A board member in high esteem, Darren was a good man with a soft touch and huge heart. He is respected for his unwavering commitment to the children of New Milford and their education," Polizzi said in a statement.
"I want to give our children the best technology, the best programs, and the best facilities," Drake said in January 2013. "I want them to outshine their peers in the district factor group."
Drake was in the process of earning a second master's degree from the Steven's Institute of Technology.
He is survived by his parents Barbara and James, uncle Robert Wilkens and his wife Helen, aunt Susan Wilkens and cousins Kristen and John.
Visitation with Drake's family is Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m. at Boulevard Funeral Home and Cremation SErvice, 1151 River Road, New Milford.
A funeral service is Monday at 9:30 a.m. at Church of the Ascension at 256 Azalea Dr., New Milford.
Friends of Drake and his family expressed their condolences on social media.
Just learned that one of the 8 killed in yesterday's NYC Attack was the son of a good friend of my family! R.I.P. Darren Drake
— DJ Steve Gandolfo (@djgandolfo) November 1, 2017
32-year old Darren Drake-- victim of #NYCattack, from New Milford, NJ. Seen here at Halloween party last Friday @NBCNewYork pic.twitter.com/qF9aLsHGRy
— Jen Maxfield (@JenMaxfield4NY) November 1, 2017
Our prayers are with the family & friends of New Milford grad and fmr. football player Darren Drake, who was killed in NYC attack yesterday.
— New Milford Football (@NMfootball) November" class="redactor-linkify-object">https://twitter.com/NMfootball... 1, 2017
Our hearts are heavy over the loss of alum Darren Drake, MBA'11, in Tuesday's terrorist attack in NYC. https://t.co/eDOrvZ2BqL
— Fairleigh Dickinson (@FDUWhatsNew) November 1, 2017
RELATED: New Milford School Board President Killed In NYC Terror Attack
RELATED: NYC Terror Latest: Suspect Charged With ISIS-Inspired Attack
Email daniel.hubbard@patch.com. Get Patch breaking news alerts sent right to your phone with our new app. Download here.
Photo: Darren Drake/Patch file photo; candle photo via Shutterstock
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.