East Granby Mourns the Passing of Beloved Music Teacher

The students, staff and parents of the East Granby school district were in mourning Friday with the announcement of the death of Crete Kochanek, a music teacher at and the middle and high schools.

According to a statement on the East Granby public schools website, Kochanek, 69, died of carbon monoxide poisoning in her home in Westfield, Mass. on Thursday afternoon. The statement said that Kochanek’s husband, Stan, was also treated for carbon monoxide poisoning, but that he is expected to recover. He is currently staying in a hospital, the release said.

The incident is currently being investigated by the Westfield police department and Massachusetts state troopers, according to Deputy Chief Pat Egloff of the Westfield Fire Department.

"Carbon monoxide was probably what the problem was," said Egloff, who added that Kochaneks' home did not have any working carbon monoxide detectors. "The crew that responded did not hear any alarms going off."

Due to the ongoing investigation, Egloff declined to comment on whether the incident was an accident, though he noted that as of March 31, 2006, all residences with fossil-fuel burning stoves or enclosed garages are required to have working carbon monoxide detectors installed.

CBS 3 Springfield is reporting that a faulty furnace was the cause of the incident.

East Granby officials, for their part, were shocked and saddened by the news of the death of Crete Kochanek, who worked in the school district for 11 years.

“This is a very sad day for East Granby because Mrs. Kochanek has touched the lives of so many of our students and their families over the years, and she will be greatly missed,” Superintendent of Schools Christine Mahoney said in the statement. “We know that this terrible loss will cause great grief and a sense of enormous loss for all of us.”

Mahoney elaborated in a telephone interview, stating that Kuchanek was "a phenomenal teacher who believed in her students and believed in nurturing their talents. Her colleagues - all of us - can recall some particular way or time she showed kindness to all others. She went above and beyond to meet the needs of her students."

Mahoney said that Kuchanek wanted her students to have "phenomenal experiences" and would take students on field trips to musical performances in New York City, as well as accompany students when they competed in regional music festivals.

"She had one particular student, I'll never forget, who she worked with and he was singing arias in Italian and in French and in Spanish. He had such a wonderful voice, and [Kuchanek] knew how to bring out the best in students."

The school district is offering support to students and staff, with a crisis team and counselors available Friday and Monday as well.

“We also urge parents to speak with their children who may be having a difficult time with this emotional loss,” Mahoney said. “We will share additional relevant information with you as it becomes available.”

Mahoney said that students at R. D. Seymour Elementary School, and had been notified of Crete Kochanek’s passing, but that students at Carl Allgrove School, due to their young age, have not been informed. Mahoney said that she is leaving it to Allgrove parents to determine the best way to deliver the difficult news.

Parents of Allgrove students have been given the option of picking up their children early “if they would prefer to discuss this very delicate matter with them prior to the end of the school day,” the statement says.

First Selectman Jim Hayden said that the Kochanek's passing was a loss not only for the school district, but for the entire East Granby community.

"She was a well-respected teacher and she'll be sorely missed," Hayden said in a telephone interview. "I remember seeing her talents working at various activities and concerts throughout town."

Mahoney agreed.

"She was fabulous. Just fabulous," she said. "We're all going to miss her."