Bill Text: NY J03122 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly | Introduced


Bill Title: Mourning the death of Ronald Peoples, retired educator, distinguished citizen and devoted member of his community

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2020-05-27 - ADOPTED [J03122 Detail]

Download: New_York-2019-J03122-Introduced.html

Senate Resolution No. 3122

BY: Senator KENNEDY

        MOURNING  the  death  of  Ronald  Peoples, retired
        educator, distinguished citizen and  devoted  member
        of his community

  WHEREAS, There are certain outstanding members of our community who,
through  their  selfless commitment and dedication, served to better the
quality of life in their community and had a measurable positive  impact
on  the  lives of its residents; Ronald Peoples was one such individual;
and

  WHEREAS, Retired Buffalo Public Schools educator, Ronald Peoples  of
Snyder, New York, died on Thursday, April 2, 2020, at the age of 86, due
to complications related to the coronavirus; and

  WHEREAS,  Ronald Peoples distinguished himself in his profession and
by his sincere dedication and substantial contribution to the welfare of
his community; and

  WHEREAS, After the Buffalo native was discharged from  the  Navy  in
1957,  Ronald  Peoples  earned  a  bachelor's  degree at St. Cloud State
University in Minnesota; he then returned to Buffalo and  was  hired  as
the first African-American teacher at School 82; and

  WHEREAS,  Ronald Peoples also earned two master's degrees in special
education and educational administration; and

  WHEREAS, Advancing from the classroom, Ronald  Peoples  went  on  to
serve  as  the  district's Home School Coordinator/Counselor at Woodlawn
Junior High  School,  and  then  as  the  district's  Elementary  School
Supervisor; and

  WHEREAS, When he retired in 1995 after 35 years of valuable service,
Ronald  Peoples became the Director of Adult Education for the district;
and

  WHEREAS, Ronald Peoples' commitment to excellence, and his spirit of
humanity,  carried  over  into  all  fields  of  enterprise,   including
charitable and civic endeavors; and

  WHEREAS,  At  the time of his death, Ronald Peoples was still active
in senior citizen track and field events; he was also  working  for  the
Community  Action  Organization  of  Western  New  York's  Second Chance
Program; he would meet with young incarcerated people to try and  change
their lives while they were in jail as well as upon their release; and

  WHEREAS,  Among  Ronald Peoples' most important affiliations was his
membership in the Buffalo Chapter  of  the  African-American  fraternity
Omega  Psi Phi, a brotherhood that performs service to the community; he
was also a congregant of Bethel AME Church; and

  WHEREAS, Ronald Peoples was an avid sports fan his whole life,  with
a  special  devotion  to  the  University at Buffalo's men's and women's
basketball teams; and


  WHEREAS, In a 2017 "Salute to Local War Heroes" story in The Buffalo
News,  Ronald  Peoples  was  more  eager  to  talk  about his children's
accomplishments than his experiences as a Cold War veteran assigned to a
Navy ship that searched for enemy submarines in the Atlantic Ocean; and

  WHEREAS, Always thinking and doing  for  others,  he  was  a  people
person;  if he was not doing something for somebody else, his life would
not have meant anything to him; and

  WHEREAS, Predeceased by his wife, the former Arlene Miles,  and  one
daughter,  Rachel,  Ronald  Peoples is survived by his daughter, Monica;
his  two  sons,  Ronald  and  Brian;  and  four  grandchildren  and  one
great-grandchild; and

  WHEREAS,  Ronald  Peoples  will be remembered as a kind and generous
man who was also courteous, thoughtful, and compassionate;  he  will  be
truly  missed  by  all  those who had the privilege and honor of knowing
him; now, therefore, be it

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

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