Georgetown alumni Jason Decker (COL ’99) and Charles Bernstein (COL ’00) were killed in a head-on automobile collision near Zapata, Texas early Nov. 22.

According to a Texas Department of Public Safety spokeswoman, both Decker and Bernstein died instantly after driving into the path of a tractor-trailer driving in the other direction. There was no indication that anyone in the tractor-trailer was injured in the accident, she said.

At the time of the accident, Bernstein was visiting Decker, who was teaching fifth and sixth-grade special education reading at Graham Intermediate School and Taylor Elementary School as a part of the Americorps Teach for America program.

Americorps is division of the Corporation for National Service, a federal agency that engages Americans of all ages and backgrounds in service and strengthening communities.

The Rev. Scott Pilarz, S.J., who taught Decker in three different classes at Georgetown, said his death was tragic and a great loss for the university.

“He was one of the brightest guys I’ve ever taught,” he said. “He was incredible, kind of quiet, but when he spoke you knew he was right on. I always said he knew something that the rest of us didn’t.”

Pilarz said Decker had a wide range of interests, including juggling, poetry and theater. While at Georgetown, Decker also was a member of the lacrosse team.

“Jason truly had an eclectic personality,” Pilarz said. “He wanted to meet all kinds of people. Every day he sat at a new table in the lunchroom just so he could get to know more students here.

Pilarz remembered Decker’s optimistic outlook on life.

“He was such a fun-loving individual. I remember when he juggled lit torches on the roof of LXR. This tragedy has just left me stunned all week.”

Decker was also respected and admired by his colleagues.

“He was a very good teacher,” Jose McVey, director for bilingual and migrant education for the Zapata school district, told the Valley Morning Star. “He was loved by his students. He went out of his way, and he would help out.”

Bernstein was extremely active in the Georgetown theater program and participated in several plays while he was a student. He acted in “Harvey, Six Degrees of Separation” and “The Physicists,” among others.

Brendan Hurley, S.J., a former chaplain at the university, preached at Decker’s funeral in Albany, N.Y., and Bernstein’s funeral in Connecticut, Pilarz said.