By Stephen J. Bronner
Locker was one of five members of the Hewlett-Woodmere Wrestling Committee, a group of parents that raised funds to bring wrestling to the high school in 2006. As part of the group’s agreement with the school, the committee had to fund the sport for its first and second year. Locker and the other members of the committee raised over $110,000 for the cause. He was also involved in other school athletics, and his wife, Lois, is a member of the Woodmere Middle School Parent-Teacher Organization. Their three children are students in the district.
“Everyone is really shocked,” said Kenneth Rosenberg, a Woodmere resident who met Locker through the wrestling committee. “He was a hard-working, respected member of the community. He was invaluable to the Hewlett-Woodmere Wrestling Committee. He will be dearly missed.”
Locker was reportedly set up to be robbed at the housing project by a prostitute he allegedly frequented and that he called hours before his murder, according to newspaper reports. He was apparently attacked in his car, and was found with electrical wire tied around his neck and his headrest and around his hands, the reports said. Locker was repeatedly stabbed in the chest, aorta, lungs and liver, according to the reports, and his attackers apparently tortured him for his ATM card pin number. Surveillance video showed a woman and man withdrawing money from Locker’s account following the murder, the reports said. A New York City police department spokesman could not confirm these details.
“The bottom line is a very nice person lost his life in a very ghastly way, and he was a very good, upbeat person,” said Stephen Witt, a Hewlett-Woodmere school board trustee who knew Locker from the schools’ Athletics Facilities Committee. “The only thing I’ll remember is Jeff as a person. He was a very upbeat, positive person and a good father, parent and husband who was very supportive of his children and the Hewlett-Woodmere school district.”
A woman who identified herself only as Locker’s mother-in-law said he was very involved in the Hewlett-Woodmere community. “Whenever they needed him, he helped out,” she said. “I’m very proud he was able to help the district the way he did.”
Locker is survived by his wife; his three children, Jason, Matthew and Allison; and his parents, Bernice and Irving Locker. A funeral service was held last Sunday at Boulevard-Riverside Funeral Chapel, and was officiated by Rabbi Jay Rosenbaum of Temple Israel of Lawrence. Many friends and community members attended. Locker was interred at Beth Moses cemetery.
“The Jeff Locker I knew, and want to remember, was a devoted and caring father who wanted his children to receive a great education and grow up to be wonderful people,” said Dr. Les Omotani, superintendent of the Hewlett-Woodmere school district, who attended Locker’s funeral. “Jeff made a positive difference in the lives of many students, families, our school system and our community. He cared about others and he supported initiatives that were good for lots of students. We care deeply about and for the children of the Locker family and will continue to be supportive of them.”
Comments about this story? SBronner@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 210.
