Park Middle School Teacher Remembered As Caring, Selfless Person

SCOTCH PLAINS, NJ — A private memorial service is being planned for Friday for Park Middle School teacher David Cilio who died unexpectedly last week from a heart attack, according to a GoFundMe set up by his brother.

Cilio, 52, is being remembered as a passionate and hard worker who was “tough as hell” and a proud American, according to his obituary. He spent the past 18 years working as a physical education and health teacher at Park Middle School and also served as a wrestling coach at both his school and at the Joseph Kushner Hebrew Academy in Livingston.

Parents at Park Middle School were made aware of Cilio's death over the weekend in a letter from principal Jocelyn Dumaresq, who called Cilio a "champion for students" who always pushed them to be their best and to believe in themselves, according to a local media report. But his care for people went well beyond the classroom as he always attempted to make others the priority rather than himself.

“He will forever be remembered as a caring and selfless person,” his obituary reads. “Whether it was offering guidance to colleagues and friends, teaching, coaching, mentoring, playing paintball or developing young athletes on and off the field/mat, he always put others first and was determined to make everyone around him better. Above all, he loved his family. The world is a better place because of him.”

A public visitation for Cilio will take place at Higgins Home For Funerals, 752 Mountain Blvd., in Watchung from 12-3 p.m. and from 6-9 p.m. on Thursday. The private memorial service will be live-streamedand will take place at 11 a.m. on Friday, according to the Higgins Home website.

Cilio is survived by his wife, Michelle and two daughters, Daniella and Tiffani, along with several other family members, including both of his parents and their spouses. As of Wednesday, more than $7,000 had already been raised through the GoFundMe effort.

In addition to helping Cilio’s family, the GoFundMe donations will also go toward a contribution that will be made to the Wounded Warriors Foundation. According to his obituary, Cilio was a proud Army veteran who received the Patton Award for Excellence and served in the National Guard from 1997-2005.

“He touched so many lives in so many ways and I wanted to take the opportunity to give a little back to the tremendous brother, husband, son, father, teacher, coach and mentor that gave so much to others,” Cilio’s brother, Todd, wrote on the GoFundMe page in his brother’s honor.

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