This is an article from the Asbury Park Press, here is a link to the article:
Accident victim’s friends, family fill the Paramount
ASBURY PARK — John U. Key Jr., the 37-year-old middle school teacher and assistant high school football coach who died in a Garden State Parkway accident Oct. 16, was remembered Monday as a quiet man who didn’t try to draw attention to himself, but let his life shine.
The Rev. Byron P. Wess, pastor of Key’s church, Second Baptist, made clear in his eulogy at the Paramount Theatre that Key’s premature death was not God’s doing. Rather, God is one’s strength when such a tragedy happens, Wess said.
Key died after being involved in a minor collision on the northbound lanes of the Parkway in Wall about 2 a.m. on a Sunday morning. He got out of his car and walked across several lanes to check on the occupants of the other car.
Key was killed when a third car struck him as he was making his way back to his own car, authorities have said.
“I’m sure you thought, ‘If only he hadn’t gotten on the Parkway, if only he hadn’t collided with the vehicle, if only he hadn’t gotten out of his car,’ ” Wess said. “But I submit the real tragedy is if John would have been the type of person who didn’t get out of his car.
“John died as he lived … moving beyond his space to see if someone needed something in their space,” the pastor said.
A large turnout of family and friends at the landmark theater included those from Ocean Township, where Key was a high school football star and assistant coach; Monmouth Regional High School, where Key coached for several years; and Asbury Park, which claimed him as the city’s own after he taught fourth and fifth grades the past 11 years and this year became an assistant high school football coach.
Key played football and graduated from the University of Delaware. He recently obtained a master’s degree in education administration.
His parents, John and Annette Key, now live in Dover, Del. He was the father of two children, Jaden and Michaela Key.
“Remember, it’s not about how long you live, but it’s what you do with the time you were given,” Key’s uncle, former Asbury Park mayor and businessman Carl Williams, said during the service.
“John used his time to the maximum,” Williams said. “John, we will never forget you. We will pick up where you left off by continuing your ministry of giving to your family, students and community each and every day.”
Wess thanked Mayor Ed Johnson for “starting the conversation” that ended up with the service being held in the Paramount. He also thanked the theater staff, and Schools Superintendent Denise Lowe for giving students and teachers a half-day of school Monday so that those who wished to attend the service could.
“We’re turning the Paramount into the House of the Lord,” Wess said after Police Officer Tyron McAllister sang on the stage in front of the closed casket.
Roberta Beauford, the Asbury Park school district director of special projects and Key’s principal for several years when he taught at Thurgood Marshall Elementary School, said, “His spirit never wavered; his smile lit up the room.”
“It’s not the years that count. It’s the life in the years,” Beauford said. “His life will continue to live through his children and students.”
His coach at Ocean Township, George Coni, spoke, as did his childhood friend Scott Larkins, who said that eight days after Key’s death, the tragedy made no sense to him but his friend “honored his family with his life, and we will never forget it.”
Retired Superior Court Judge Ira E. Kriezman, a close family friend, said he felt sad “for those students and student athletes who won’t be taught or coached by John Key.”
“John used his time to the maximum,” Williams said. “John, we will never forget you. We will pick up where you left off by continuing your ministry of giving to your family, students and community each and every day.”
Wess thanked Mayor Ed Johnson for “starting the conversation” that ended up with the service being held in the Paramount. He also thanked the theater staff, and Schools Superintendent Denise Lowe for giving students and teachers a half-day of school Monday so that those who wished to attend the service could.
“We’re turning the Paramount into the House of the Lord,” Wess said after Police Officer Tyron McAllister sang on the stage in front of the closed casket.
Roberta Beauford, the Asbury Park school district director of special projects and Key’s principal for several years when he taught at Thurgood Marshall Elementary School, said, “His spirit never wavered; his smile lit up the room.”
“It’s not the years that count. It’s the life in the years,” Beauford said. “His life will continue to live through his children and students.”
His coach at Ocean Township, George Coni, spoke, as did his childhood friend Scott Larkins, who said that eight days after Key’s death, the tragedy made no sense to him but his friend “honored his family with his life, and we will never forget it.”
Retired Superior Court Judge Ira E. Kriezman, a close family friend, said he felt sad “for those students and student athletes who won’t be taught or coached by John Key.”