HAMPSTEAD - Capt. Jonathan Grassbaugh, a U.S. Army Ranger and the son of Hampstead Middle School Principal Patti Grassbaugh, was killed by a roadside bomb while serving in Iraq.
Grassbaugh learned Saturday that her son was killed late last week. Jonathan Grassbaugh, 26, was sent to Iraq for the second time earlier this winter after brief visit with his family. His father, Mark Grassbaugh, who was also a Ranger, was away on business when Patti received the news.
Jonathan Grassbaugh attended Hampstead Central School and graduated from Hampstead Middle School. He went on to Phillips Exeter Academy and then to Johns Hopkins University, where he was a member of the ROTC and graduated as an Army officer.
He was married last summer. His wife is also an ROTC officer; she remained stateside when her husband was deployed to Iraq.
Although family members could not be reached for comment yesterday, Central School Principal Dillard Collins said Jonathan Grassbaugh's duties put him at a high risk for danger.
Collins said he knew both Jonathan and his older brother Jason, an Army surgeon who graduated from West Point and is stationed in Tacoma, Wash.
"Jonathan was a really great kid," Collins said. "I've dealt with a lot of kids in my years, and Jonathan was in the top 1 percent. Not only was he smart and an extremely nice kid, he was highly motivated and fully understood the concept of duty and honor, as does his entire family."
Teachers at Hampstead Middle School were notified by telephone. Kathe Cussen called it "horrible news" and said, "I am just sick about it."
School Board Chairman Natalie Gallo said she cried when she heard of the death.
"It is such a shame, such a waste of such a very intelligent and lovely young man," she said. "I am heartbroken for Patti and Mark."
Funeral arrangements have not been announced.
