Alexandrias school board took a few moments of silence Thursday to remember beloved teacher and tennis coach Michael Vitez, who died of natural causes earlier this month.
    
He was really an exceptional person, a quintessential teacher, said Sheryl Gorsuch, board vice chair. He was a very enthusiastic tennis teacher who welcomed beginners to novices and brought them all up to very high standards.
    
Officers found Vitez, a math teacher at George Washington Middle School, dead in his Gordonsville, Va., home after police received a request to check in on him. A scholarship fund has been set up in his memory. Donations can be given to Kathy Bunger, treasurer at the middle school or mailed to: Susan D. Yowell, Scholarship Fund of Alexandria, 3330 King St., Alexandria, VA 22302.