John Doktorski

"My Greatest Adventure is Discovering Jesus Christ"
- John Doktorski

A WORD TO THE STUDENTS AT COLLIER HIGH SCHOOL FROM MR. DOKTORSKI'S WIFE (BETSIE)

Mr. Doktorski always loved to be a part of good, wholesome adventures. His love of life and his appreciation for nature provided him many opportunities to explore new things and to reach out beyond his comfort zone. It was sometimes a little scarey for him. He was afraid of heights, but as a young adult he made the decision to rise above that fear and learn to do technical climbing.

I'm sure he shared many of those adventures with you as he was encouraging you to utilize the climbing wall at the school. He bicycle toured western Europe with his father and bicycled to Nova Scotia. He loved the thrill of roller coaster rides and taking his nieces and nephew and grandson on fishing trips. His love for being physically fit was an asset for him and helped him survive bone cancer many years ago. His physical fitness was instrumental in helping him to hang on for as long as he did with this brain tumor.  He was always ready to share his experiences with others and to help them develop and improve their physical fitness through fun adventures. He has taken some of his students on hiking trips, helped them develop motor skills and taught them to swim.

However, there was one experience he had when he was in his early twenties that has impacted him for eternity. That was when he committed his life to hisLord and Savior Jesus Christ. Not only was he continually developing his physical fitness, but he was now developing his spiritual fitness. This has given him more satisfaction than anything life could never offer. No matter what life has thrown at him, his trust and faith in God has strengthened and sustained him. It was God who gave him the peace and relaxation to endure being awake during his brain surgery and to face the rough road that was ahead. As is quoted in the Holy Bible in Philippians 1:21 "For me to live is Christ, to die is gain."  The one and same God who has saved and sustained Mr. Doktorski loves and cares for each one of you. Life isn't always pleasant, but with God going before us and often times carrying us, we can get through anything.

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing."
- 2Timothy 4:7-8

God bless and keep each one of you.

A Word from John & Betsie's daughter Ardin - - January 23rd 2008

John's celebration of life!
I have a plaque hanging on my wall at home that reads something like this 'God brings people into our lives to help prepare us for a future that only He can see.'  There is no doubt about the fact that God brought John into our lives for a reason.  A reason that we may not even know yet.  I had no clue back in 1986 when John (or Mr. D as we called him then) became our new gym teacher that he would also become my Dad. We have heard many nice things about John and his love of life, his love of God, and his love for his family.  But John was a man of action.  He didn't just sit around talking about what should be done - he did it.  I am confident that John would not want us to just sit around talking about him and all his attributes and qualities.  John would want us to take what we've learned through him and put it into action.

John was a passionate adventuresome man, and while he was passionate about climbing and bicycling and fitness his greatest passion and his AWESOMEST adventure was his walk with the Lord Jesus Christ.  He was passionate about people and the state of their souls.  There have been many people that have told me that they would not have a personal saving relationship with Jesus Christ if it had not been for John sharing the gospel with them.  What a testimony!...and what a challenge to us as Christians.

There is one thing we are all guaranteed--and that is eternity.  All of us will spend an eternity somewhere-either in heaven or hell.  John's greatest desire is to see those in his sphere of influence and beyond spend an eternity in heaven with the Lord Jesus Christ.  Smile as that.

God gave us a gift when he gave us John and I think it is ever so fitting that John's name means 'God's gift'.  When God gives us a gift does he expect us to hold onto it and never let go?  NO, God gives us a gift, expects us to share it, and will often times ask us to let go of his gift for a greater purpose to be fulfilled.  Today we are letting go of our gift, and I am confident that God has a greater purpose that WILL BE fulfilled.

• Jeremiah 29:12-13 "Then you will call upon Me and go and  pray to Me and I will listen to you.  And you will seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart." 
• Proverbs 3:5-6  "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, do not lean on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths."

God works all things together for good to them that love the Lord.

My challenge for us today -- What are we going to do?  Are we going to sit around and just talk and remember or are we going to take action and live.

Today for me is NOT good-bye - it is thank you, it is I love you and most importantly it is I WILL SEE YOU LATER!!

- Arden Turner

Ray Bock's Words at John's Memorial Service

My thoughts about John - Ray Bock, Principal of Collier High School

I think we all knew that this day was coming.  There was really no cure for the aggressive cancer and brain tumor that John had.  I think it was only because it was John that perhaps we thought he wouldn’t die.  Those of us who were privileged enough to know him, also knew that he was a man of great faith and a man who believed in miracles.  And while the possibility of a miracle seems not very likely or impossible to most of us, John seemed to expect one.  After all he had beaten cancer before. 

From the moment he pulled the school administrators all together one day in late August, and explained the details as he understood them of his aggressive brain cancer and assured us that everything would be OK, we marveled at his courage, determination and his faith.  He asked us to pray for him but especially for Betsy.  His faith was amazing.  And his faith in our prayers was humbling to those who prayed for him.  In my house we prayed for John every night.  When I let john know that, you just knew how important our prayers were to him and what a large part his faith played in his life.  And maybe that’s why we thought just maybe this day wouldn’t come.   

In the last few days, thinking about John, my take on miracles has shifted a bit.  I think that as John would say it, God’s will was done. God let us share for a few years in the miracle that John Doktorski was to us at Collier.

When we hired John 4 years ago, John became the senior citizen of our PE department at the ripe old age of about 45.  We have a great young PE department, anchored by Jeff and Lara and always added to by a combination of  other staff.  The core of the PE department led the way and John became a solid pillar in that core.  They support and take good care of each other.  When John arrived as the newest member of the group, he watched and listened.  He always asked good questions and he found his place in the department.  John was so appreciative of the support that Lara and Jeff provided for him.  He raved about them in my office.  He was a grateful man who made it a point to let me know how much he appreciated the support of our administration.  He was always thankful.

John connected with the spiritual part of our mission at Collier.  He felt it immediately and I think it added to his feeling of finding a home at Collier.  Our program is sponsored by the Sisters of the Good Shepherd and their mission is alive in our school.  John was a good shepherd to his students.  While many students liked John and his corny humor at times, there will always be those who resist.  John wanted a lot for them, however, they don’t always cooperate.  But if a student complained, I always knew I could ask this question.  Do you think Mr. Doktorski wants the best for you?  They could never say “No.”  In time, even the most resistant would know that when John pushed them to succeed or offered his advice about a better way to live their lives, he wanted what was best for them and they could see that in Mr. D every day.  In fact, when students complained about John, I knew part of the complaint before I even met with them.  It went something like this.  “Look Mr. Bock, you don’t understand, the guy is too nice! That’s not right.  I can’t stand it!  He’s just too nice!”

Once John settled in, it didn’t take him very long to begin to think outside the box to see what was possible at Collier.  He started by pushing us towards the construction of our state of the art three sided climbing wall and high ropes course, a task previously thought to be impossible.  John was a passionate climber and he wanted desperately to share that passion with our students.  John=s dream became a reality.  We have one of the most comprehensive, challenging and exciting high ropes and climbing walls around.

In my recollection of what came next it seemed only moments after we got the go ahead on the ropes and climbing wall when John turned to me and said You know, we should start a biking club.  I took a deep breathe, thought about all the reasons why it would be impossible.  “Where are we gonna get the bikes?  What about the insurance?  Where are they going to ride?  Around the campus?  Not down the hill!”  I breathed out, looked at John who was ready to bury me with the passionate thrills of  riding.  John said, “Maybe some of our students don’t know how, what a great outlet for them, the local bike path and all of the benefits to our kids,” and I said  “Yeah John, why don’t we look into it.”  Today we have a stable of bikes, some new, some donated, all kept up, a bunch of helmets and a biking club that has been a huge success.

While John sometimes fretted, and sometimes struggled with the challenges he faced in the classroom, weight room or our gym, he never complained.  He always saw the best in our students and I can’t say I ever saw him get down.  He so enjoyed the successes of his students - - a student who made progress in the weight room or was starting to gain self esteem by feeling more fit and healthier - - a student who struggled mightily, but climbed the wall or beat his or her best time to the top - - a student experiencing the joys of riding a bike (whether gliding downhill on the front road or fighting gravity to pedal back up)  -- a  student overcoming near paralyzing fear and  taking the leap of faith on our high ropes course.  And in one of our greatest memories of John, watching him run behind holding on and then letting go while a young lady learned to ride a bike at Collier for the very first time in her life.  John loved it all.   

We have other fond memories of John that are dear to us and tell you a little more about this great man.  I had been talking about trying to ride a bike from my house to Collier for nearly 20 years when John came up one summer day, loaned me a bike and rode with me nearly all the way home to make my little dream a reality.  Of course, I came home exhausted and boasting of the huge feat I had accomplished while John turned around rode all the way home and never lost his breathe.  He rode his bike back up to Collier the next day to see how I enjoyed it.  Well, once the bike club was well under way, John was always inviting me to join them.  I had excuses about how much time away from school and all that I had to do, but John persisted and I happily joined them.  The big trip was down the hill, out to the bike path and all the way to Matawan where John treated everyone to a Stewart’s root beer.  The memory of seeing John with his kids sitting under an umbrella drinking root beer on a beautiful spring day is one that I will always cherish.  In fact, if you’ve ever had the pleasure of hearing John’s bike riding stories, you’d know that once when he around a senior in high school he pedaled from South River to Nova Scotia with a friend, riding in the day and sleeping under the stars or on bad nights under a tree in the rain. 

Several weeks ago I met John’s Dad at the hospital and heard of their trip together biking across Europe after John graduated from college.  I saw John’s Dad relive their ride together, father and son, and recognized a twinkle in Dad’s eye as he got excited about the story.  I really enjoyed that and thought that I had seen that twinkle in John’s eyes before.

While John was serious about his work and his faith, at times he had a child-like quality about him.  When John got excited, whether it was about biking, climbing, the successes of our students, trying to explain to me the details of making home made beer or roller coasters, you could see the little boy in John and he would smile, get a little giddy and get a little twinkle in his eye.  When John’s dad talked about John as a little boy, he described the man we came to know.  Whenever he could he’d be outside and when the family was having dinner, if there was a little light left in the day, John had one foot under him and another foot heading for the door just waiting to be excused so he could go back outside and run around.

My favorite memory of John, earned him a special place in the hearts of my own daughters and a place on my wall in my home.  I think it was his second year. I mentioned that John loved roller coasters.  While that was a passion we both shared, I didn’t know it at the time.  Apparently, we both liked to nearly scare ourselves to death and I had passed that passion on to my daughters to the best of my ability.  Well it was September and Great Adventure was getting ready to close for the season.  We had season tickets and me and 2 of my girls who were just tall enough, wanted all summer to ride the fastest and tallest roller coaster in the world, “King Da Ka,” but every time we went, either the line was too long or the ride was shut down.  I conspired to take them out of school early one Friday afternoon and give it one more shot.  John came to me that day and said he needed to leave as soon as the bell rang at the end of the day.  I said no problem not asking what the rush was and then John said AI just want to ride “King Da Ka” once more before the season ends.  After I shared my early afternoon plan, we decided to meet at the park and were on the first ride, John riding with my 10 year old Kelsey and me with my 8 year old Ali.  We have a picture of it and I got key rings made with the picture of us together on it.  One for me, Ali and Kelsey and one for John.  In the picture itself, I must explain the glasses.  In John’s excitement when he told me that the ride went from 0 to 128 mph in 3.5 seconds, he said it went so fast he recommended wearing glasses.  The only ones I could find in a rush were my kids Harry Potter glasses.  While John and I wore the glasses and my daughters wore none, make no mistake that behind those shades, John Doktorski has that twinkle in his eye.  A twinkle I’ll never forget.

Before we say goodbye to John at Collier HS, we should think again. While were gonna miss him, he really isn’t leaving us.  John believed in miracles and so I think he’s gonna stick around.  I’m sure he’ll be at the rock wall and the climbing ropes and the bike path.  He’ll be with us in spirit and with his spirit by us there’s much of him that we can keep alive.  When I heard the news of his death, I didn’t believe it at first and then in church on Saturday night it hit me.  When one of my daughters saw me crying, she started too and asked, “Are you crying for John Doktorski?” I said. “No, I’m not crying for John, he’s in heaven.  I’m crying for Betsy and his family . . .”  And me too.  I’m gonna miss him.

It’s nice to know that John is in Heaven.  Of that I have no doubt.  It’s also nice to know that he left much behind that can help us remember the miracle he was to Collier in the short time we came to know him.

Thanks Betsy for allowing me to speak.  That=s too for modeling what love and loyalty look like in your care for john in the last months of his life.  Thanks too for showing us what courage is. Your ability to tell us how much you’ve been blessed in the midst of tragedy was an inspiration to us.

But thanks much more for sharing John with us in our family at Collier.  He was a brother to some, an uncle or father to others and a friend to all of us.  Thank You