November 2009 : Volume 10 - Issue 2 - In Memoria

In Memoria

To All Former Hicksville High Students

It is with great sadness we inform you of the passing of a wonderful colleague, Maria de la Libertad Torres Vera de Kozma, whom we affectionately called Libby. 

She was born in Murcia, Spain, and was a Spanish teacher extraordinaire at Hicksville High School from the 1960's to the late 1980's. Among her many teaching accomplishments was infusing her classes with her passionate, Spanish soul. Libby was responsible for the creation of a New York State recognized course for Regent's credit entitled "Spanish For Job Opportunities," where students could learn Spanish that would help them in the working world. Libby was an always very gracious lady who willingly helped both students and colleagues beyond her required daily routine. She will be sorely missed. Her former colleagues of the Foreign Language Department at Hicksville High School extend their deepest sympathy to her husband, Alexander, and her family.

Annette and Richard Gentile 
Rose Pavesi
Hicksville High School Foreign Language Department 
(1963-1997)

Richard

Do you have an obituary for Libby? When did she pass? Where was she living? Your note is in the "In Memoriam" window. We can add an obit if there is one available.

Warm Regards
Buffalo Bob Casale 

Dear Bob,

This is all the information we have. She lived in Hollywood, FL. As for the date, I don't know, just that it was recent (early October). Libby had two children, Margaret (who is living in Florida) and Carl, who was killed in Vietnam. She is also survived by several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Richard Gentile

I just wanted to let the old Hicksville community know of the passing of one of the retired foreign language Spanish teachers from Hicksville High School. Mrs. Kozma, known affectionately as Libby, died peacefully during the late evening of October 8, 2009. I know many students have passed through her classrooms and she worked endlessly for their enrichment. Her achievements have not gone unnoticed. Many former students remember, fondly, the personal touch provided by Mrs. Kozma.

Libby had two children who cherished their mom. Her son, Carl, graduated from Hicksville High in 1966. Carl wound up in the military and was killed in Vietnam in 1969. I am her daughter, Margaret, and I am a graduate of 1967.

Mom...we miss you.

love
Margaret Kozma Olthaus 

Thanks for mentioning this in your newsletter. I know there are former students who would like to know, but I have no way of getting in contact with them. (Rosemary Caltagirone (Not positive this is the exact spelling, but it's close.) is one of these students who was living in Texas, but I have no further information.)

Be well,
Richard Gentile

Margaret...

So sorry to hear of Mom's passing. Judging from some mail we've seen, she was much admired as a person and a teacher. Is there an obituary available that we can post in the newsletter? You might like, too, to put some words together that express your feelings for Mom and the life she lived. Thanks for whatever you can provide.

Warm Regards
Buffalo Bob Casale and the newsletter staff

If not for Mrs. Kozma, I never would've passed my Spanish 2 final my junior year...I went from taking my French Regents exam to my Spanish final, and wrote out half the answers in French.  I got called to her classroom, and she was sitting there with Ms. Kumpikas, and told me what I'd done.  She had Ms. Kumpikas grade the portions that I answered in French, and I ended up with a 92 on my Spanish final. She was a great teacher, and a wonderful human being.  She'll be missed.  Our condolences to the Kozma family. 

Marianne Carine Hoerner

Bob

Thank you for your condolences. Yes, she was a great teacher and left her mark on so many of her students. There is no obituary. We are having a memorial service.  Presently, I am trying to get information from her former students and colleagues regarding her life and times at Hicksville High. I know I used to hear how great a teacher she was. How she was easy to talk to. How she would listen to student problems and help in solving their dilemma. She constantly encouraged her students to be the best they could be. She always wished the best for each and every one. She was dedicated to her school "family" and thrived on the challenge of every new year. She was a great person and Mom!

Thank you.
Margaret Kozma Olthaus

I was saddened to hear of the passing of Mrs. Kozma.  She was a fine teacher and a compassionate human being. 

I was not very adept at foreign languages.  The conversational work was never a problem, but grammar and verb conjugations always did me in.  But somehow I managed to get into her Spanish II class.  At the end of the year, I was on the pass/fail bubble.  She called my parents in for a conversation.  My summer plans, which involved a full time job, were already set.  She was considering giving me a failing grade and recommending that I take the class over in summer school.

My parents were nearly convinced, but I begged.  Mrs. Kozma suggested a compromise.  She would give me a passing grade if I would promise not to take Spanish III.  I gave her my solemn oath. It has been over 42 years since that early summer meeting and I have never forgotten it.

Thank you again Mrs. Kozma and may peace be with you.

David Teitel

John DounelisFARMINGDALE, NY - John H. Dounelis, 70, fell asleep in the Lord at his home on Tuesday, October 13, 2009, following a series of illnesses. He is survived by his wife of 41 years Anna (Janulis) Dounelis; his daughters, Maria (Claudia Devlin) Dounelis of Brightwaters, NY; Anastasia (Joseph) Gallo of Bethpage, NY; Joanna (Anthony) Bartolomeo of Hicksville, NY; and his son Harris P.J. (Vanessa) Dounelis of East Meadow, NY; and seven grandchildren, Alexandra, Jason, and Angelina Bartolomeo; Alexander John and Jadyn Devlin-Dounelis; and Joseph John and Angelo Gallo.

Born in Mineola and raised in Hicksville, he was the son of the late Harry J. and Rita (Efthimion) Dounelis. A graduate of Hicksville High School, he attended C.W. Post College prior to beginning his career in the travel industry. Mr. Dounelis, respected and recognized for his experience and expertise, owned and operated Axis Cruises & Tours in Farmingdale for 17 years, following 25 years as the Manager of Reservations for Chandris Cruises / Celebrity Cruises in New York City.

He is also survived by his brothers Charles (Betty) Dounelis of Easley, SC; Philip (Francine) Dounelis of Ephrata, PA; and Fr. George (Presvytera Kathryn) Dounelis of Matawan, NJ; his mother-in-law Anastasia Janulis of Deerfield Beach, FL; brothers-in-law Peter (Helen) Janulis of West Orange, NJ and Dean (Alicja) Janulis of Paterson, NJ; aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, and Godchildren who loved him dearly.

Mr. Dounelis, a member of the Holy Trinity Church in Hicksville since 1974, served on the Parish Council in various positions, including four years as President in 1998-1999 and 2004-2005. He organized and chaired Holy Trinity's first two Greek festivals in 1977 and 1978, served as president of the Mr. & Mrs. Club, as GOYA advisor, Building Fund chairman, Church Consecration chairman, on the editorial staff of The Life of Our Community church periodical, was a past president of the Nape (Mytilenian) Society, and was awarded a medal and citation in 2005 for outstanding contributions to his church community by Nassau County, NY. He was generous in his support of charities and churches including St. Basil Academy, St. Michael's Home, the IOCC, the Holy Resurrection Church and the Dounelis Family's home parish of Saint Paul, where his late father was a founding member.

Funeral services were held at the Cathedral of Saint Paul in Hempstead, NY on Friday, October 16, 2009, where choir members and directors of the Direct Archdiocesan District Federation of Greek Orthodox Church Musicians chanted during the service. Officiating were Fr. Luke Melackrinos, Proistamenos of Saint Paul Cathedral, Hempstead, NY; Fr. Nick Magoulias, former Proistamenos of Saint Paul Cathedral; Fr. John Vlahos of Holy Resurrection Church, Brookville, NY; Fr. Peter Souritzidis of SS. Constantine & Helen Church, Orange, NJ; Fr. George Stavropoulos of Holy Trinity Church, Hicksville, NY; and Fr. George Dounelis of Kimisis Tis Theotokou Church in Holmdel, NJ, who gave the eulogy for his beloved brother.

Fr. Luke Melackrinos read messages of condolence from His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America and His Eminence Metropolitan Evangelos of New Jersey who described Mr. Dounelis as a 'devoted churchman' who served our Lord with 'zeal and staunch dedication' and 'whose shining example of service and love to all will forever be etched in the hearts of the faithful parishioners, his family and friends for generations to come.' Burial followed at Pinelawn Memorial Park in Farmingdale. He is no longer in our presence, but forever in our hearts. May his memory be eternal. Memorial donations may be made to the Cathedral of Saint Paul, Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, Holy Resurrection Church, or to the Metropolitan Jewish Hospice of New York.