Kustok Memorial Held One Month After Murder
ORLAND PARK, Ill. (WBBM) - A month has passed since the mother of sports reporter, Sarah Kustok and former Northwestern University quarterback, Zak Kustok, was found shot to death in her Orland Park home.
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Thursday, more than 200 people turned out as a reading garden was dedicated in Jeanie Kustok's honor at the Central Elementary School in Riverside, where Kustok taught.
The hour-long service was often emotional. After children in the District 96 choir sang the song "Fairest Lady" flawlessly, many ran to their parents' arms and broke down in tears.
Children, fellow teachers and parents eulogized Kustok as a positive, caring woman who had an infectious smile and made exquisite brownies.
"Her lessons were challenging and creative," said Caitlin Lieggi, a fifth grade student at Central. "No matter what, Mrs. Kustok would give you a compliment about something."
Ingrid Lulich is a working mother who has volunteered time at Central. She agreed that Kustok always had something good to say, and said Kustok offered advice about parenting and about life when needed.
"After four years of teaching my sons, I can say that Jeannie no longer had just touched my heart. She had become a part of it," Lulich said as she fought back tears.
Nick Jepson, an eighth grade student at Hauser Junior High School, in Riverside, said Kustok has been one of his favorite teachers.
"She taught many things, and she always gave us independence in choosing what work to do," he said. "Think outside the box is one of the things she stressed the most."
He said, had he known she was about to die, he would have returned to Central to shake her hand to thank her. And then there were the brownies.
"Her brownies were the best I have ever tasted," said sixth grader Joseph Connolly. "She said if you touched it, you take it, and some people tried to touch every one."
Connolly released three balloons to complete the ceremony -- attached to a brownie in a bag. The balloons were supposed to take flight, but traveled only about 100 feet before becoming snagged in tree branches.
"I don't think that worked," he said with a laugh, but there were plenty of other brownies at a reception inside of the school afterward.
Neither Zak nor Sarah Kustok attended the ceremony, outside of Central, at 61 Woodland Rd., in Riverside.
Their father, businessman Allan Kustok, was indicted Tuesday on murder charges. He is accused of shooting his wife as she lay in their bed Sept. 29. He insists that she shot herself. Both children say they believe him.
He returns to court Nov. 18.
