John S. "Moc" Toggas
John S. "Moc" Toggas, 50, lost his life in an accident on April 19, 2008. "Moc" was the son of John and Mary Jane Toggas of Gettysburg and the brother of my wife, Stephanie.
John taught physical education at Parkland High School and coached wrestling for 20 years where he produced four state champions and numerous state qualifiers and great wrestlers.He was well respected by his former wrestlers and opposing wrestlers and coaches, as well as his peers and friends, as was evidenced by more than 1,000 people combined showing up for his funeral services over two days. John was a graduate of Gettysburg High School and East Stroudsburg University.
John's wedding to his wife, Monica on June 14, 2002 was one of the last weddings I ever photographed. It was a lovely outdoor affair held at his farmhouse in Mertztown, PA held for only close friends and family. John loved his family, especially his two children, Matt and Samantha. He loved his family in a manner that I can only admire. He was a tough man, but he had no reservations about letting his feelings show. I learned many things about how he lived his life last week, heard some great stories, and cried a lot for losing him and for feeling the pain of those who were really close to him who needed him in thier lives. My wife lost a brother, a great friend, and the person she could always count on whenever she had a tough time with something and needed an ear to listen or a shoulder to cry on. He was her "rock" and he can never be replaced.
My small post here doesn't begin to do justice to the kind of person you were and how loved you were.
We will all miss you, Moc. More than you could have imagined.
