An annual student award will honour the memory of a Richmond Hill teacher who was killed in a tragic accident while cycling in King City July 24.
More than $22,500 has been raised — surpassing in spades a $5,000 goal — for the Daniel Bertini Memorial Award at St. Joan of Arc Catholic High School in Maple, where the 54-year-old Richmond Hill man was a longtime teacher.
"Daniel was a father, husband, teacher, brother, son, and a dearly beloved friend. He was an avid cyclist and a cross-country skier. He leaves behind him his wife and his teenaged son," says the GoFundMe page created by the science department at the Vaughan high school.
While cycling on Keele Street at about 7 a.m. on Friday, July 24, he was killed when a vehicle being followed by a York Regional Police cruiser lost control and rolled over, colliding with his bicycle. He died on the scene.
The award will be presented to a Grade 12 science student personifying "the characteristics that he admired in a student; dedication, initiative, hard-working, and integrity," the page said.
"Please help to honour a great teacher and a great man," his colleagues wrote about the GoFundMe campaign, to which more than 330 donors — students, former students, fellow teachers, friends and family — have donated to date.
"There are some teachers that students never forget in their lifetime. Mr. Bertini is one such teacher," wrote donor Ranisha Fernando. "His hilarious laugh, diligence, deadpan humour, and genuine love for science and physics will be missed. I went to visit Mr. Bertini a few years after graduating. Even though he was in the middle of a lecture, he took the time to see how I was doing ...Rest easy, Mr. Bertini."
"I am numb to hear of Mr. Bertini's passing. Almost every year after graduating from Grade 12 in 2011, I would make a visit to St. Joan of Arc to say hi to all the teachers that made a difference in my life. Mr. Bertini was the one teacher that I would always have an hour-plus conversation with," Matthew Pittana wrote. "He truly exemplified the character trait of giving someone time and attention — making them feel like what they had to offer mattered. He was very good at his craft and was a gentle, humble, kind, and honest human being... He will be dearly missed."
Drake David Tye Paul, 20, of Toronto is charged with fail to stop causing death and dangerous driving causing death.
Both the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) and York Regional Police are conducting investigations of the collision.
