Craig Stettner, age 53 and a biology professor at Palatine's Harper College drowned on Jaco Beach* on Christmas day. His friends have open a GoFundMe page to cover the funeral expenses and set up a scholarship fund or foundation in his name.

Professor Stettner was swimming with his family at Jaco Beach in Puntarenas*, when he was carried away by a riptide.

Harper College president, Ken Ender, expressed his condolences to Stettner's family "It is with a heavy heart that I must share the news that our colleague and friend Craig Stettner passed away while on a trip to his beloved Costa Rica. Craig was a full-time faculty member with Harper's biology department since 2002. His commitment to conservation and passion for the environment inspired his students to learn more about biology and ecology and the role they play in it. He was on vacation in Costa Rica and was preparing for a group of students who were going to join him for a field research study abroad program in the rainforest. Craig leaves behind a troop of "eco-warriors" who will carry on his work.”

According to his brother David, the family members were swimming in the Pacific Ocean on Dec. 25 when they began to drift too far out. A large wave separated Craig from one of his brothers and a niece. From this point on, they are not sure what happened to Craig, as each family member struggled to stay afloat. Upon getting back to shore, they soon realized he was missing. They called authorities, as the beach was not manned by a lifeguard, but the family found him floating and unconscious before first responders could arrive. They had to pull him from the water themselves.

"It's been the worst week of my life," said David Stettner.