Assembly Resolution No. 674
BY: M. of A. Thiele
MOURNING the death of Jeananne Dawson,
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 endeavor
served to enhance the quality of life in their communities and the great
State of New York; and
WHEREAS, Jeananne Dawson, of Mastic, New York, died at the age of
71; and
WHEREAS, A true pillar of her community, Jeananne Dawson was a
40-year member and former Vice President of the William Floyd Board of
Education; her unwavering dedication, vision, and pride in her school
community has helped the district grow into the success that it has
become today; and
WHEREAS, Jeananne Dawson's involvement in William Floyd began in
1975, when she and her husband, Richard, and son Mark, settled in
Mastic, a small bucolic town on the south shore of Long Island; and
WHEREAS, During her early years in the district, Jeananne Dawson
began actively attending school board meetings; often stating that a
system is only as good as the people involved in it, she decided she
needed to make a change; and
WHEREAS, Jeananne Dawson applied for and was appointed a spot on the
William Floyd Board of Education in 1979; she was then elected and
subsequently re-elected by the community for 13 consecutive three-year
terms; and
WHEREAS, During her tenure of superb leadership, Jeananne Dawson was
instrumental in creating and incorporating a growing sense of vision and
community, as well as the pursuit and attainment of advances in
curriculum philosophy and consistent growth in the academic process; and
WHEREAS, Furthermore, she was influential in bringing the
award-winning NJROTC program to the district and helped initiate
state-of-the-art building projects which eventually led to the end of
split sessions and portable classrooms; and
WHEREAS, In addition to all these advancements and accomplishments
in the school district, the proudest moments of Jeananne Dawson's tenure
were in the early 1980s when William Floyd High School earned the
Newsday High School of the Year Award, and Moriches Elementary School
earned the distinction of National School of Excellence; and
WHEREAS, Due to her long list of tremendous accomplishments as a
member of the William Floyd School Board, Jeananne Dawson was duly
honored in May 2019, by the Nassau-Suffolk School Boards Association for
her 40 years of dedicated and distinguished service to the William Floyd
School District students and community; and
WHEREAS, Perhaps Jeananne Dawson's greatest legacy is that of her
children and grandchildren who have witnessed her selfless dedication to
volunteerism and love for her community throughout their lives; she is
survived by her husband, Richard; their son Mark (Lauren); daughter
Michelle (Ricky); two grandchildren, Brody, Bella; and a step-grandson,
Devin; she is predeceased by her brother, Jim; and
WHEREAS, Armed with a humanistic spirit and imbued with a sense of
compassion, Jeananne Dawson 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 Jeananne Dawson, distinguished citizen and devoted
member of her community; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the family of Jeananne Dawson.
