Ex-New Milford School Board President Killed In NYC Terror Attack

A man who served as president of a New Jersey school board was among eight victims of a terrorist attack in New York City on Tuesday. Darren Drake, 32, was president of the New Milford Board of Education from January until June of 2013. Authorities identified him as among those killed in the terror attack on Manhattan's lower West Side.

Drake graduated from New Milford High School in 2003 and Rutgers University in 2007. He stepped down from his school board seat because his company was relocating, he told Patch in 2013.

"After giving it much thought, I decided to resign because the district deserves 100 percent of my attention, and I expect no less of myself," Drake told Patch at the time. "Given the requirements of my job, I cannot possibly devote the same amount of attention to my duties on the Board. Therefore, I feel that the right decision is to step down."

Drake was a project manager for Moody's when he went out for a bike ride between meetings, according to nj.com, and then was struck by the Home Depot truck.

Moody's released a statement in remembrance of Drake:

“The entire Moody’s family is truly saddened to learn that Darren Drake was a victim of yesterday’s attack. Darren was a valued member of the Moody’s team and his loss will be deeply felt by all those who worked with him. Our thoughts are with his family and those who knew him.”

When he assumed the reins of board president, Drake talked about how he wanted more than an "equal playing field" for children. "I want to give them the best so that they can be the best and achieve the most," he said at the time.

"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."

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.

"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.

"His decisions were always predicated on what he believed was in the best interest of students, their growth and well-being, their intellectual development as well as their social and emotional welfare. In addition to his insights into the needs of students, he brought to the board significant business acumen, intelligence and humor. He was friendly, fully engaged and forward-thinking."

Drake's father, Jimmy, sobbed as he talked to nj.com outside the family's New Milford home on Wednesday. His son, he said, was an only child who lost 93 pounds after undergoing lap band surgery three years ago.

"While other people would take cigarette or coffee breaks, he would go out and ride the bike for 15 or 20 minutes," his father told the publication. Drake said he and his son were close and frequently went fishing together.

Nj.com said Jimmy Drake recently underwent an aortic valve replacement and had a pacemaker installed, while Barbara Drake lost the job she has held for 40 years.

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.

The man suspected of killing eight people on a Tribeca bike path Tuesday planned the attack for weeks, officials said Wednesday. Sayfullo Saipov, 29, carried out the terrorist strike according to directions from the Islamic State group, said John Miller, the NYPD's counterterrorism commissioner.

Saipov's Tuesday afternoon attack injured a dozen others on the path near the West Side Highway between Houston and Chambers streets, just blocks north of the World Trade Center, officials said.

Read more: NYC Terror Latest: Attacker Followed ISIS Instructions, NYPD Says

An Uzbekistan native who was living in Paterson, Saipov was an active New Jersey Uber driver for more than six months, with 1,400 trips. Uber confirmed that he passed the company's background check. He has since been banned from the Uber app, according to company spokeswoman Susan Hendrick.

Read more:

• Alleged NYC Attacker Was NJ Uber Driver, Gave 1,400 Rides
• Drake New Board of Education President
• Board of Ed To Fill Drake's Seat With Appointment

Others paid tribute to Drake on social media and elsewhere.

(Lead image by Mark Lennihan/Associated Press)