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Oak Park police have released a bulletin urging Oak Parkers to keep an eye out for a missing resident who has not been seen nor heard from since Wednesday morning.
Jassen Strokosch, 39, was last spotted at around 10 a.m. Wednesday morning in the vicinity of Cermak Road and Desplaines Avenue in Forest Park.
Strokosch, who lives on the 1150 block of S. East in Oak Park, is 6-foot-1 with long brown hair and hazel colored eyes. He was last seen wearing a plaid button-up shirt, a T-shirt, and either blue jeans or khakis. He is believed to be on foot.
According to Oak Park Police Commander LaDon Reynolds, Strokosch’s family said they haven’t seen him since Tuesday morning. “According to the family, this is unusual for him,” Reynolds said. “He’s never been reported missing before.”
Chris Jasculca, communications coordinator for Oak Park School District 97, said that he was first alerted to the news late Tuesday night. “I’m shocked. This is completely unexpected,” he said.
But Jasculca added that, news that Strokosch was spotted Wednesday morning came as a relief. “It’s comforting to know that people are seeing him, and when they’re seeing him, he doesn’t look to be injured,” he said, adding that it’s also a comfort that police do not believe that any foul play was involved in his disappearance.
Reynolds said that the police are allocating as many resources as possible to locate Strokosch. They have reached out to nearby law enforcement agencies for help, as well as the local media. The police are asking that the community join in the search.
“We just would like to have as much assistance from the public as possible,” Reynolds said.
If anyone sees Strokosch, they should immediately call the police at 708-386-3800.
Strokosch is a father of two, and recently gained local attention for his leadership in a campaign to support the Dist. 97 referendum, which passed in April.
Irving PTO Co-President Laura Crawford said Strokosch is a former president and continues to be an active member of the Irving School PTO.
“The PTO board members are in contact with the Strokosch family and we will be involved per their direction,” Crawford said. “The outpouring of support for Jassen and the Strokosch family is a testament to how much his work in the community is appreciated. Jassen embodies the essence of what Oak Park citizens should strive to be. We are all doing everything we can to ensure his safe return.”
Jasculca said that the heightened concern in town regarding Strokosch’s disappearance is likely because of his positive reputation and involvement in public affairs. “Jassen is very well known. He’s very well liked,” Jasculca said.
Jasculca said he met with Strokosch last week, in what he described as a casual, normal meeting and conversation.
“I’m remaining hopeful that he’s going to be found and that he’s going to be okay,” Jasculca said.
Strokosch’s last Twitter post was on Monday, July 18. It read “I’m at Dunkin Donuts (Roosevelt, Grove, Oak Park).”
On July 17, he tweeted that he was at Rehm Pool, and gave the address.
Oak Park police seek public’s help locating missing resident