Bill Text: NY J01032 | 2023-2024 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Mourning the death of Joan Bozer, distinguished citizen and devoted member of her community

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 42-21)

Status: (Passed) 2023-05-16 - ADOPTED [J01032 Detail]

Download: New_York-2023-J01032-Introduced.html

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Senate Resolution No. 1032

BY: Senator RYAN

        MOURNING  the  death  of Joan Bozer, distinguished
        citizen and devoted member of her community

  WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to pay tribute to
citizens of the State of New York whose  lifework  and  civic  endeavors
served to enhance the quality of life in their communities and the great
State of New York; and

  WHEREAS,  Joan  Bozer of Buffalo, New York, died on Thursday, May 4,
2023 at the age of 94; and

  WHEREAS, A native of Westchester County, Joan Bozer  was  raised  by
her  parents  Tom  and  Ruth Kendig in Pelham Manor, New York, where she
graduated from high school  before  attending  Dean  Junior  College  in
Massachusetts; and

  WHEREAS,  After  attending school in Massachusetts, Joan Bozer moved
to Buffalo, New  York,  earning  a  Bachelor's  degree  in  History  and
Government at SUNY's Empire State College; and

  WHEREAS,  In 1951, Joan Bozer married her husband, the late Dr. John
Bozer, and was blessed to have five children, seven  grandchildren,  and
five great-grandchildren; and

  WHEREAS,  Dedicating  her life to environmental advocacy, Joan Bozer
founded and served as co-chair  to  the  Western  New  York  Sustainable
Energy  Association,  formed the Friends of Olmstead Parks organization,
which later became the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy, and helped  to
develop the National Association of Olmsted Parks; and

  WHEREAS,  Becoming  active  in  politics,  Joan  Bozer  was actively
involved in the League of Women Voters; she also served as chair of  the
government   relations   committee  of  the  Citizens  Regional  Transit
Corporation, a non-profit organization dedicated to reducing the  area's
automobile  traffic through expansion of Metro Rail into the suburbs and
to the airport; and

  WHEREAS, As a testament to  her  leadership  abilities,  Joan  Bozer
served  as  president  of  the  League of Women Voters, president of the
Junior League of Buffalo, and chair  of  what  was  then  known  as  the
National Conference of Christians and Jews; and

  WHEREAS,  In  1975,  Joan  Bozer  ran for a seat on the Buffalo City
Council; soon thereafter she ran successfully to fill  the  position  of
County Legislator, representing the 4th District; and

  WHEREAS,  As  a  Legislator, Joan Bozer led drives which resulted in
several milestone pieces of legislation, such as her fight to  save  the
Old Post Office in the historic district of her community and convert it
to the City Campus for SUNY Erie Community College; and

  WHEREAS,  Joan  Bozer  helped  to  change people's attitudes towards
Buffalo's historic district, prided herself as one of Western New York's

longtime preservation and  environmental  advocates,  and  served  as  a
matriarch to the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy; and

  WHEREAS,  In  addition  to founding the Western New York Sustainable
Energy Association with the goal to promote the development of renewable
energy, Joan Bozer fought tirelessly to bring a  solar-powered  carousel
to  Buffalo's  waterfront; her dream came true in 2021, when the Buffalo
Heritage Carousel, built in 1924, was restored and opened at  Canalside;
and

  WHEREAS,  Exemplifying  what  it  truly  means  to  care about one's
community, Joan Bozer  received  the  Lifetime  Achievement  Award  from
Preservation Buffalo Niagara in 2014; and

  WHEREAS,  Joan Bozer was a beautiful light in the lives of all those
with whom she came in contact; her infinite selflessness and benevolence
will shine on through her family's vivid and  happy  memories,  and  her
insight  and  strength will forever serve as a beacon of love, light and
hope to the countless lives she touched; and

  WHEREAS, Joan Bozer is survived  by  her  children,  Alan,  Timothy,
Elizabeth,  and  Thomas;  her grandchildren, Julia, Alexander, Caroline,
Daniel, Katherine, Brigitte, and Charles; and  her  great-grandchildren,
Helena, Samuel, Noa, Millie, and Lila; and

  WHEREAS,  Armed  with a humanistic spirit and imbued with a sense of
compassion, Joan Bozer leaves behind a legacy which will long endure the
passage of time and will remain as a comforting memory to all she served
and befriended; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its  deliberations  to
mourn the death of Joan Bozer, and to express its deepest condolences to
her family; and be it further

  RESOLVED,  That  a  copy  of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the family of Joan Bozer.