48.0°,
Light Rain Fog/Mist GCCSD remembers Frank Bouza
On Sept. 27, the Glen Cove community honored former school board member and 42-year district employee Frank Bouza, who died on Oct. 14, 2015.
Bouza was born in Spain and moved to Glen Cove in the early 1960s. Gail Nedbor-Gross, board trustee and one of Bouza’s good friends, described him as “a self-made man, [who was a] good listener, hands-on and patient.”
Bouza began working at Glen Cove High School in 1963 as a custodian. He was promoted to head custodian of both the middle and high school, and eventually became supervisor and director of buildings and grounds for the district, a position he held for over 20 years. He was a hard worker and dedicated to the Glen Cove City School District.
“Frankie knew all the nooks and crannies,” joked Nedbor-Gross, about her dear friend. “He was always fixing something.”
In 2005, Bouza left his position in the district when was elected to the Board of Education, where he served until he stepped down in 2011.
“Everyone got along with Frankie because he was one of the nicest, sweetest, most thoughtful man I’d ever known,” said Nedbor-Gross.
“My father was a great husband, father and community member and grandfather,” said Bouza’s daughter, Susan Gielbeda. “His focus was always the children.”
Superintendent Dr. Maria Rianna presented Bouza’s widow, Elizabeth; son Frank (Tara) Bouza; daughter, Susan Gielbeda; and grandchildren, Haley, Christopher, Sophia and Tessa, with staff sweatshirts. “Buildings and grounds, maintenance, facilities was his passion, his love, his way to contribute in that time, to the community,” Rianna said. “This is a small token of our love and appreciation for your grandpa, your father and your husband.”
“I cannot even count how many lives my father has impacted,” Gielbeda said. “There are so many stories I could tell, but then we would be here all night. He took pride in his job no matter what it was. Again, I want to thank you for coming in honor of my dad.”
The plaque will be mounted in front of the flagpole at Glen Cove High School.
