Clinton mourns death of longtime teacher

Parents: Reynolds acted as ‘surrogate father’ at times

CLINTON — Flowers, stuffed animals, a red tinsel heart and gold sign that reads, “Mr. Reynolds we love you,” now rest at John “Jack” Reynolds’ parking spot at Lewin G. Joel Jr. Elementary School, a tribute for a beloved teacher who died this week.

Reynolds, 57, lived in Westbrook and worked at the elementary school since 1997. This year, he was a kindergarten teacher.

He was found dead Tuesday at the Pattaconk Recreation Area, according to Department of Energy and Environmental Protection spokesman Will Healey. Foul play is not suspected.

Social media posts, including one with over 130 comments, poured in on Clinton groups, saying Reynolds had a sense of humor and big heart.

Many parents of current and former students said Reynolds touched many during his time as a teacher.

Mother Aly Vece said her son keeps asking who will be his teacher now.

“Every day after school, Dylan would say, ‘I love

Mr. Reynolds.’ My 11-yearold also had Mr. Reynolds. He really got her to enjoy school. At the beginning, she would cry with separation anxiety from mom,” Vece wrote on Facebook.

Reynolds mailed Vece’s daughter a letter to show how proud he was of her progress in school, she said.

Patty Atwater, a paraeducator in Reynolds’ classroom, said he was a gentleman and scholar who was full of life and wisdom.

Nancy Samler said her son had Reynolds in kindergarten.

“He was such a positive, friendly person. The teachers and students at Joel must be devastated,” Samler said.

Maria Phillips, whose daughter had Reynolds in first grade, remembered him fondly, calling him quick-witted and smart.

“He had his ‘Reynolds’ kids’ and once a ‘Reynolds’ kid,’ you were always a ‘Reynolds’ kid,’” Phillips said, referring his students.

Phillips recalled that when she was going through a divorce, Reynolds took her daughter, now 21, under his wing.

“Jack became like a surrogate father, a male role model for her for that year that she was in his class, and followed her throughout her entire school history,” she said.

Katie Bruch McCollom has known Reynolds since she was a teenager. Her father, Bob Bruch, mentored Reynolds. McCollom was a colleague when she started teaching, and her son had him as a kindergarten teacher.

“Jack was a ray of light at Joel,” she said. “It didn’t matter if a child had him directly as a classroom teacher or if they just passed him in the hall, they knew him from bus duty, they knew him from assemblies. He made every child feel joy and made every child feel special.”

“He had a gift of making people feel connected and joyful in his presence,” she said. “I say that he was a teacher of a lifetime for my child.”

Clinton Town Council Chairman Christopher Aniskovich released a statement Wednesday, extending the town’s condolences to Reynolds’ family, friends, co-workers and students.

“Not only was Jack a great educator, but for those lucky enough to know him, knew him to be a better person,” Aniskovich wrote. “He will be sorely missed by a community that he did so much for, please keep his loved ones in your prayers.”

Katie Bruch McCollom / Contributed photo Gavin McCollom was in John “Jack” Reynolds’ kindergarten class from 2015 to 2016. His goal was to grow to the height of his teacher’s belt by the end of the school year.