WESLEY CHAPEL – Staff at John Long Middle School have raised more than $25,000 to help the family of a late colleague who passed away Sept. 29.
Damon Zassenbraker, 52, taught history and coached the football team at the school.
Principal Christine Wolff sent a letter to families Sept. 29 sharing the news of Zassenbraker’s passing.
“Coach Zassenbraker was a valued member of our school community who touched the lives of many students, athletes and colleagues,” Wolff said in the letter. “His dedication to our school and passion for mentoring students will be deeply missed.”
Wolff encouraged parents to talk with their children about Zassenbraker’s passing at home and let staff know if they need support. A crisis team was available for anyone on campus.
The Pasco County School Board held a moment of silence in Zassenbraker’s honor.
Jonathan Frenchko, on behalf of John Long Middle School staff, started a GoFundMe page Sept. 30 in hopes of raising $30,000 to help Amy Zassenbraker and the family with funeral expenses and future needs.
“Today we are grief stricken and holding each other up,” according to the page. “Today we’ve learned of the loss of our friend, our colleague, our family member. As we wander our halls today they echo. We hear our football teams, our soccer teams, our track teams and our students all looking for words, for answers, for understanding. There are few dry eyes today.”
The page also shared insight into how Zassenbraker tutored students and attended extracurricular events that his children, Regan and Gavin, were involved in.
As of the morning of Oct. 9, 219 donations poured into the GoFundMe page, raising $25,494 for the family. Four donors gave at least $1,000 each.
The name of the page is “Coach Z- A Life Lost That Gave So Much. Support his family.”
