The Forest Hills School District is mourning the loss of teacher Erick Urbaniak.
Urbaniak, who taught German, passed away this weekend after his health declined because of long-term medical challenges, according to a Facebook post from the district. He taught at Anderson High School and Nagel Middle School. Urbaniak also previously taught at Turpin High School.
Parents, friends, and colleagues mourned Urbaniak in the comments.
"My daughter was looking forward to having him for German studies again in the fall," Amanda Creutz wrote. "Dr. U was an AMAZING educator, approaching topics with humor and a sense of adventure. My daughter came home from school at least once a week with a Dr. U story. She looked up to him so very much."
A visitation for Urbaniak
will take place Wednesday, July 29 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Zettler Funeral Home at 2646 Pleasant Ave. in Hamilton. There will be a funeral mass after Thursday, July 30 at 10:30 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church on 400 Nilles Road in Fairfield.
"Please join us as we keep Dr. Urbaniak's family in our hearts during this difficult time, and we are also thinking of the many students, colleagues and families at FHSD who have been touched by his kindness and dedication over the years," the district's Facebook post said.
Urbaniak's family asks anyone who would like to share memories, photos, and other warm thoughts about him to do so by dropping them off or mailing them to Anderson High School at 7560 Forest Road. Email contact@foresthills.edu to do the same so a scrapbook of memories can be created for his family.
The school district also posted a message on its website sharing resources for grieving children, and other support and emergency resources.
Two other school districts in the area have been mourning educators this month. Princeton City Schools announced the death of two Princeton Community Middle School staff members: STEM instructor Carlee Bongiorno and Paraprofessional and Coach Justin Randle. Lebanon City Schools announced the death of Chelsea (Ball) Miller, a teacher and coach at Lebanon Junior High School.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Forest Hills mourns death Erick Urbaniak, longtime German Studies teacher
