Crystal Marousis Handchen, Beloved Brick Teacher, Coach Mourned

PINEHURST, NC — Crystal Marie Marousis Handchen, a beloved teacher and cheerleading coach in Brick Township for decades, is being mourned by the many people whose lives she touched, after she died Tuesday, April 20, 2021 at 63.

Crystal was one of those fortunate people whose natural gifts match their career choice, her family said. Being a teacher and coach just absolutely fit the person she was.

She was the teacher who deeply cared about and got to know her students. If she suspected someone was hungry in class or on the field, she’d hand them a healthy snack from a stash in her desk or always-brimming "cheer bag." When she sensed a problem at home, she didn’t let it pass. She'd ask the questions that many feel uncomfortable asking, then quietly drop off groceries to students whose families were struggling. Or buy that dress and a hair-and-makeup session for the girl who couldn’t afford it so that prom night was as special for her as for anyone.

She was personally driven to excel in all things and drove her students to succeed — in tough but kind ways. She didn’t play favorites and sent personal notes of encouragement on megaphone-shaped stationery before cheerleading competitions to each of her squad members: "Smile, and go for it!" "You just have to want it so bad you can taste it!" "Have confidence, and you will Prevail!" That style made her a winning coach who helped her team bring home national titles and numerous awards and secure invites to perform for the likes of the New York Giants and Jets.

Her "see the whole student" approach, often telling students and athletes to "walk with her never behind her," made Crystal the mentor that former students and athletes invited to their college graduations, weddings and the baptisms of their children. And her longevity as an educator in Brick — where she was raised and taught until 2014 — meant that she eventually taught some of those babies, too.

"She defined the word 'mentor.' I loved her and she loved all of us unconditionally," said Christine Caravella Giannios, a cheerleader with Coach (then) Marousis through four years of high school. "She instilled work ethic in kids. Her expectations were extremely high and we worked so hard to exceed them. She just warranted the respect. She gave so much of herself without expecting anything in return except that we all reach our fullest potential. Crystal also fought tooth and nail to make sure we were as respected as any other sport."

The two became friends through the years, and Crystal was Giannios' son's seventh-grade teacher. "He’s 30 now and still says she was the best teacher he ever had," she said.

News of Crystal’s stroke on April 12 and death a week later prompted an outpouring of condolences and remembrances, with hundreds of Facebook comments and posts:

"She treated me like a daughter and I’ll forever appreciate the advice and kindness she gave me."

"Words can not even sum up the impact she made on generations of young people through her career as a coach and teacher. She did so much for so many."

"I am so grateful to have been blessed to have been forever impacted by such a force of wisdom, determination, love and strength."

In marking the passing of its varsity coach, the Pinecrest High School PTSA posted perhaps the biggest truth about Crystal, who was an award-winning gymnast, cheerleader and body-builder through high school and college: "Crystal Handchen was a passionate and vivacious cheer coach that loved everything CHEER … Although Crystal loved cheer, she loved her beloved husband Rick and daughter Ashleigh more."

Crystal most certainly did revel in cheering on her daughter with her beloved husband of 29 years, Rick Handchen. Together, they encouraged Ashleigh's athletic achievements, especially when she became a Division 1 runner. The couple loved life in Pinehurst, and being closer to Ashleigh and her husband Zach Griffin, who live in Charlotte, N.C.

Crystal was close with all of her family but especially so with her nieces and nephews — Jacquelyn Marousis-Bush, Cara McCarthy, William McCarthy, Christina Matuszewski, Leanne Wasilition, Vanessa Joyce, Mark Leone, Kadie Anderson and Timothy Collins — supporting them in their activities and endlessly proud of their achievements.

She was born Jan. 24, 1958, in Lakewood, NJ, to Stathia and Charles Marousis. She lived in Brick until moving south with Rick four years ago.

After graduating in 1976 from Brick Township High School, Crystal earned a bachelor's degree from Clarion State College and a master's in elementary education and reading specialist certification from Georgian Court College.

Starting at the elementary level in 1980, Crystal taught in the Brick schools for her entire career. In 1987, she made the switch to teaching math and science at Veterans Memorial Middle School, where she was nominated several times for Teacher of the Year.

Crystal ignited another lifelong passion in 1980 by beginning her coaching career, first by leading the Brick Pop Warner cheer team, then coaching cheerleading and gymnastics for Brick Township High School and Brick Memorial High School. She coached the Mustang cheerleaders from 1984 to 2002 and returned to the program she loved in 2005 until her 2014 "retirement." Soon after arriving in Pinehurst, the never-one-to-be-idle Crystal was hired as varsity coach at Pinecrest — coincidentally another school with green-and-gold colors like Brick Memorial.

Crystal was a respected mentor throughout her career, serving as an advisor for the Veterans Memorial Middle School drama club and several other clubs and organizations, and as a member of the Metropolitan Cheerleading Judges Association. She worked for cheerleading judging organizations for years and coached for the World Cup All-Stars from 2002 to 2010.

Named Teacher of the Month in 2002, to Who's Who Among America's Teachers in 2000, and Outstanding Coach by the NJ State Cheerleading Coaches Association in 1998, she also was inducted into Brick Memorial’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2017.

Visiting will be Monday, April 26, 2021 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Silverton Memorial Funeral Home, 2482 Church Road, Toms River. Funeral Services will be 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. Barbara's Greek Orthodox Church, 2200 Church Road, Toms River. Burial will follow to Ocean Country Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Crystal Marousis Handchen Memorial Scholarship, which the family created in her honor to be awarded annually to a Brick Memorial senior cheerleader. The mailing address for contributions is: David J. Connelly, Esq., 387 Herbertsville Road, Brick, NJ 08724.

Crystal was predeceased by her father Charles Marousis and father-in-law Harold Handchen. In addition to her husband, daughter and son-in-law, Crystal is survived by her mother, Stathia, and partner George Tsoubanos, of Brick; siblings Cynthia McCarthy and husband William of Manchester, NJ; Karen LoPresti and husband Philip of Bayville, NJ; Antoinette Zachariades and husband Andrew of Brick; Anthony Marousis of Toms River, NJ, and Maria Marousis of Brick; mother-in-law Evelyn Handchen of Lacey, NJ; brother-in-law Harold Handchen and his wife Littany of Brick; sister-in-law Diane Collins and her husband Roy of Lacey; nine nieces and nephews, 12 great-nieces and nephews, and many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.