FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP — Calling Thomas Koller “an exceptional man who loved life,” Rabbi Brooks R. Susman coofficiated at a graveside service on Aug. 23 at the Marlboro Memorial Cemetery and Mausoleum when Koller was laid to rest.
Koller, 50, of Freehold Township, was killed in a motor vehicle accident on Aug. 19 on Kozloski Road, Freehold Township.
The accident also claimed the lives of Nicholas Dever, 19, of Freehold Borough, and his passenger, Noelle Deluccio, 20, of Howell.
According to the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, Dever was driving a 2009 Volkswagen Jetta south on Kozloski Road just before 4 p.m. when he lost control of the vehicle, crossed into oncoming traffic and crashed head on into the 2006 Honda Pilot that Koller was driving north.
A 25-year-old man from Freehold Borough who was driving a 1994 Toyota Camry behind Koller was also involved in the crash and was critically injured.
He was transported to Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune, and remained in critical, but stable condition on Aug. 25, according to the prosecutor’s office. The 25-year-old man has not been identified by authorities.
Susman, the spiritual leader of Congregation Kol Am, Freehold Borough, was expected to officiate the service for Koller with Deacon John Zebrowski.
Susman said although Koller was Roman Catholic, and his wife Shelia observed the Jewish faith, the family observed traditions of both faiths in their home.
“I was introduced to Thomas by his wife, Shelia,” Susman said on Aug. 22. “And from what I know about him and what I have since learned, Thomas was an exceptional man who had a true moral grounding. If he saw an offense taking place, he felt offended by the offense.”
Susman said Koller loved science and nature, and he added that fly-fishing was Koller’s passion and that golf “was a job” to him.
Susman said Koller’s family was the most important thing to him, in his role as a husband, as a father to his two daughters, as a son and as an uncle.
“The worst thing about this is that there is nothing worse than this,” the rabbi said. “We have no answers. We attempt to fill the silence to explain the inexplicable with loving platitudes, but the truth is there are no explanations. There is no real solace except to accept that this is the saddest reality of all.”
Koller was born in Rockville Centre, N.Y., and lived in Aberdeen Township before moving to Freehold Township 17 years ago. He was a senior account executive for Synopsys, Mountain View, Calif., for many years.
— Clare Marie Celano