Beloved Teacher, Coach Honored With Street Naming At Brick Memorial

BRICK, NJ — Crystal Marousis Handchen, who touched the lives of hundreds of students in her years as a teacher and cheerleading coach at Brick Memorial High School, was honored Friday night with a permanent memorial to her at the school.

A sign naming the street to the Brick Memorial football field "Crystal Marousis Handchen Way" was unveiled before the start of Friday's game between Brick and Brick Memorial by her husband, Rick Handchen, with dozens members of her family and her cheerleading family on hand.

Handchen, who died in April 2021 after an illness, was known for her "see the whole student" approach, often telling students and athletes to "walk with her never behind her" as she mentored them through the challenges of life.

She emphasized academics and supported her students in a multitude of ways, and in her memory, her family established the Crystal Marousis Handchen Walk With Me Foundation. Her family also works to raise awareness of the dangers of hypertension, announcers at the football game said.

Read more: Crystal Marousis Handchen, Beloved Brick Teacher, Coach Mourned