The Maple Shade school district employee who was hit and killed by a bus on Jan. 28 has been identified as 85-year-old Maple Shade resident Jack Hohwald.
Hohwald was a 23-year bus driver for the district and a Maple Shade police officer from1968 to 1995, according to his obituary.
He served in the Army National Guard from 1961 to 1968, and was a past commander of American Legion Post No. 66. He was a longtime member of Maple Shade P.B.A. No. 267 and Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Maple Shade.
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Hohwald is survived by his wife of 64 years Patricia, children Robert Hohwald and Diane Gumpper, and four grandchildren.
A memorial of flowers, stuffed animals and Eagles balloons now decorates a fence that surrounds the bus parking lot near Maple Shade High School.
A memorial to Jack Hohwald, the victim of a fatal school bus accident, is on a fence at the Maple Shade district’s bus parking area.
In a letter posted to the district’s website, Superintendent Beth Norcia said Hohwald left a legacy of community service.
“Jack Hohwald was more than just a school bus driver — he was a friend, a mentor, and a dedicated community member who touched the lives of so many students and staff each day,” she wrote. “For our students and staff, Jack was a constant, reassuring presence, a protector and a friend who took great pride in safely transporting our children to and from school each day.”
Norcia asked students and staff to wear blue and yellow for the remainder of the week. These are the colors of both the Maple Shade district and the American Legion.
The superintendent also discussed how the district will move forward after this tragic event.
She said members of Burlington County Crisis team, school counselors and district staff have been on site to assist with supporting staff members and students.
A Maple Shade school bus
“As an educational community, we appreciate all the support and love shown to our staff, students and families as we continue to process this terrible tragedy,” she wrote.
“We offer our deepest condolences to the families of the staff members impacted by this tragedy, especially the Hohwald family.”
The accident in the high school lot remains under investigation. The bus driver who struck Hohwald remained at the scene.
No charges have been filed at this time.
Services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Feb. 3, at Mark C. Tilghman Funeral Home, 38 North Forklanding Road, Maple Shade. Friends and relatives can call at the funeral home after 10 a.m. Monday and from 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday.
Interment will follow at Locustwood Memorial Park in Cherry Hill.
Nick Butler is an impact reporter for the Courier Post, the Daily Journal and the Burlington County Times covering community news in South Jersey. Have any tips or stories? Reach out to NButler@Gannett.com. Subscribe to stay in the loop.
This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Jack Hohwald, Maple Shade, killed by a bus in the school parking lot
