More Than a Mentor: A Memoir to the Late Stephen J. Czekalski

Let me preface this by stating not a single person has impacted me the way in which Mr. Czekalski has.

I believe that men are often defined by the characteristics that define them. There are many characteristics that can be associated with Mr. C. Energetic, positive, passionate; these characteristics helped him connect with his students on a daily basis. Intelligent, caring, understanding; characteristics of such aided in his rise in becoming the head of the English Department at West Deptford High School. Though these characteristics invoke jealousy in even the most qualified individual, I saw something much deeper. Getting to know Mr. C over the years, I realized three factors made him somebody that I will never forget: his incredible sense of emotional intelligence, his tremendous ability to invoke emotion in others, and his deep devotion to his family.

I can often remember times in which I found myself amazed by how Mr. C could flip a switch and instantly change emotions; the duality was astonishing. In the classroom or behind the scenes of any sporting event, his light hearted soul would lighten any mood. Often times his deep laugh would cause others to go into hysterics. This type of situation is something that many will remember him by. The side that many didn’t see was the side that I resonated with the most. When things were serious, his thunderous voice would command a room. From him non-verbal cues alone, you knew when things were serious. In these times, he would command an extreme sense of focus and dedication, ultimately bringing the best out of those around him. To an immature adolescent, his ability to understand that there was a time and place for everything was intriguing. In a matter of hours, a man that mesmerized a classroom full of students reading a novel, now had a group of athletes ready to run through a wall for him. In both circumstances, he drew emotion out a wide variety of individuals.

Personally, I know that Mr. C has invoked many emotions in me over the course of our relationship. From joy to anger, from admiration to sorrow, the man had a way with his words that could elicit emotion in the coyest individual. Students often remember how he could read a portion of a novel, elaborate the meaning, and continue reading. The major differentiation between when he started reading and when he finished was by the end of the dialogue, you understood every word. There are not many teachers that could consistently adapt and connect to nearly every student they came in contact with. In a similar manner, his detailed storytelling enamored every individual who listened. From the in depth details, to the constant change in tone, his stories were infectious. Often, his stories revolved around his beautiful family. By the way he talked about his family, you knew he would give anything for their continuous health and success.

Mr. C’s devotion to his family is something that I cannot stress enough. The joy he had being the loving father of Madeleine, Rachael and Stephen, and supportive husband of Catherine, did not go unnoticed. This was exemplified in an interaction we had years ago. As a high school senior, I believed the town revolved around football and an education, in that order. When the news was passed that Mr. C was stepping down as a football coach, I could not fathom what would prompt him to do such a thing. When I confronted him about his resignation, he stated how it was time to be a better husband to his wife and a better father to his kids. He went on to elaborate how much time and dedication these coaches put in throughout the year, especially during the football season. It troubled him how much time he would spend apart from them, missing critical junctions in their life to spend with a select few. In this moment, I realized that life was much more than a game, yet a feeling of joy when you went home to your wife and kids. The feeling you felt when you watched your child walk for the first time, walk out the front door on their first day of school, and walk across the stage as they graduate. Looking back, he made a decision that put his family, and ultimately his happiness, first. One day, I hope I can be half the man he was to his wife and kids to my own.

To me, Mr. C was more than a coach and more than teacher. He was a mentor, a second father, a shoulder to cry on, and a model family man. When I heard about his passing, I slept one hour the following night. Throughout the night, I gazed at the ceiling and replayed all the good and bad times we had in my head. The next day, I knew I had to commemorate the life of a man who meant so much to me in a way that would make him proud, the English language.

Coach C, I love you and will never forget the man you molded me into.

-Joshua Roane