Moshe Berkowitz, killed in DWI crash, remembered as devoted teacher at funeral

The family of Moshe Berkowitz held a funeral for their son with hundreds of residents at the Yeshiva Ohr Yitzchak in Midwood Brooklyn in a heavy rain.









A Brooklyn man was remembered as a devoted teacher who would tutor students for free if their families couldn't afford it, friends said.

Moshe Berkowitz, 25, died Monday night after a boozed-up driver ran a red light and slammed into him on Ocean Ave. in Brooklyn, police said.

Students at Yeshiva Birchas Shmuel, where he taught middle school English, bravely memorialized Berkowitz Wednesday at his funeral. Joseph Minzer, 13, was one of dozens of mourners who packed the Yeshiva Ohr Yitzchok in Midwood.

"He was the nicest, greatest person I've ever known," Joseph said. "He was always trying to help me with my problems and with things I didn't understand."

Berkowitz was killed when Anel Kolenovic, 23, barreled into him head-on about 11:35 p.m. Kolenovic was charged with DWI, manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide and ignoring a red light.

Police were investigating whether the suspected drunk driver and his friends were racing before the crash.

A witness said the driver and a passenger reeked of alcohol at the scene, and a police source put Kolenovic's blood alcohol level at more than double the legal limit.

"We miss seeing him around," Orel Partush, 13, said of the beloved teacher. "He was a very lively person, always energetic. He would always help people and play sports with us."

Known to students as "Moe," Berkowitz was a great football player and liked to break dance at school events.

His father, Jack Berkowitz, said his son has gone "to a better place."

"I'm going to miss you," the dad said. "Even when I was at work, I didn't care about anything else but seeing you."