Faculty Member Commits Suicide At School In Jersey City: Cops

A beloved faculty member was found dead in an apparent suicide at a New Jersey school this week, according to authorities.

Students were sent home from St. Peter's Prep in Jersey City Thursday after the incident took place at 7:11 a.m. At that time, Jersey City police responded to a call of a possible suicide in the area of 144 Grand St., Jersey City spokeswoman Ashley Manz told Patch.

The Hudson County Prosecutor's Office acknowledged the incident but referred comment to Jersey City officials. Students were called to an assembly but were notified of the man's death before being dismissed for the day at about 10:15 a.m., according to authorities.

In a statement on its website, Saint Peter’s Prep paid tribute to the victim and identified him as Jan Butrym, a longtime member of the school's Educational Technology staff.

Kenneth Boller, S.J., Prep’s president, referred to the faculty member's passing as “a profound loss,” adding, “In so many ways, Jan was the epitome of what any Jesuit institution in the world would hope for in its graduates – namely, a person of competence, conscience and compassion…a true ‘man for others.’ "

Although classes will begin at 9:35 a.m. on Friday, the school's guidance counselors will be available for students beginning at 8 a.m. in the Hammer Heritage Room for individual and group support, according to the website.

Counselors will be available in their offices throughout the class day for any students who wish to speak with them. Additional resources for students and adults in the Prep community will be made available in the days ahead; please consult this afternoon’s message from the principal’s office for further detail.

A member of Prep’s Class of 2001, Butrym's impact was felt immediately upon his arrival on the Prep campus as a freshman in the fall of 1997, according to the website.

A gifted computer technician from a young age, during his student days he always made himself available to any administrator, teacher or fellow student who needed assistance in navigating any aspect of the school’s burgeoning information technology systems.

This assistance continued during his years of study at New Jersey Institute of Technology. It was not unusual for Jan to visit Prep after the day’s classes were completed, or even on weekends, to lend support as Prep’s IT hardware and software continued to expand throughout the campus at an almost exponential rate, according to the site.

"Not surprisingly, this selfless willingness to help others often extended to regularly helping colleagues at their homes on weekends as they were installing their own computer devices," according to the site.

In 2007, he officially joined Prep’s IT staff in a full-time role. "It was a seamless transition that played a key role during the numerous construction projects that would take place over the following years, including one just completed this past September," according to the site.

"While always well-known to his colleagues for his kind demeanor, quick wit, and eagerness to share his expertise, the past several years had seen him become more familiar to students as well – particularly those participating in the burgeoning robotics program, or staffing the Chrome Depot in support of Prep’s 1:1 Chromebook program," accordingto the site.

“In the very best sense, Jan wore his love for Prep and its Jesuit tradition on his sleeve,” said James Horan, vice president. “His talents on the job were second only to the joy he felt when assisting another member of the Prep community, whether it was a simple paper jam or the inevitable headaches that come with the installation of a sophisticated new software package. He was always there for us.”

Prep principal James DeAngelo remarked, “Jan’s impact on Prep, both as a professional and as a person, was profound. He was a great role model for both the students and his colleagues – a consummate professional and just ‘a great guy’ in every sense of that phrase. His presence on campus was a gift that we never took for granted.”

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