The fugitive Rolls-Royce driver who killed a beloved Brooklyn teacher broke a lot of hearts, too.
Family, friends and students collectively mourned the horrific hit-and-run death of Matthew Jensen, 58, remembered fondly Wednesday as opinionated, passionate and powerfully dedicated to the P.S. 110 students left without their favorite instructor.
“He was a wonderful, wonderful person who wasn’t afraid of a sentence or an opinion,” recalled a teary John Ogren, 64, the victim’s cousin and best friend. “But truly loved by everyone … All the kids loved him, and the parents loved him (even) more. He will be so deeply, deeply missed.”
Bouquets of colorful flowers appeared in memorial Wednesday outside P.S. 110 Monitor Elementary School in Greenpoint, flanked by dozens of handmade posters drawn in crayon and marker — and even a photo of the late teacher holding one of his beloved cats.
“You brought light here,” read one of the more poignant tributes to the veteran teacher. “You made everyone feel they were someone special and important. You will be sorely missed.”
Jensen was struck and killed shortly after midnight Tuesday by the luxury automobile, with the driver leaving the scene of the fatal Greenpoint accident, police said. The driver, who had the green light, remained on the loose Wednesday, and it was unclear if speed was a factor in the fatality.
“Such a big heart, such a warm personality,” said colleague Daniel Tamulonis, 67, a friend of nearly three decades. “He was a big, blonde-haired guy with a heart of gold. He so easily connected with the children he was working with.”
Jensen, born in West Haven, Conn., enjoyed a long career teaching in the Bronx and Brooklyn, according to his devastated older brother Mark.
“Worst day of my life,” said Mark Jensen, 69, his voice choking up. “He should be remembered as a gentle giant. A passionate man that loved everyone. He was one special man. I can’t even put it into words.”
Mark recalled a pair of stories that illustrated his brother’s endless generosity. A young neighbor once asked Matthew to attend his church confirmation, and the teacher happily accepted the invite. And during the pandemic, Matthew cooked food that he shared with neighbors as the city shut down.
“He was just a special human being,” the brother recalled. “I wish I could have done all the good he did in his life.”
Best buddy Ogren recalled taking weekly Saturday trips with Jensen to the McCarren Park Farmers Market and heading out for brewery tours around the tri-state area. Ogren, who spend the night with his late friend’s cats Caty and Olive after their owner’s death, was overwhelmed by emotion in the wake of the tragedy.
“It’s not anger,” he explained. “It’s deep sadness. What would bring him back? What would pay for our suffering? There’s no amount.”
