Thanks to Liz Pearsall for sending in this information which appeared in Newsday.
Leo Meyer passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on June 22 after a long illness. He was both a resident of Great Neck and Southampton for many years. Beloved husband of Ora (deceased). Loving father of Ken (Natalie) and Joyce Richards (Steven). Treasured grandfather of Jason, Ethan, Todd, and Jeffrey. Cherished great grandfather of Mikayla.
Leo was the former principal of PS104Q, Far Rockaway, and owner/president of The College Clearing House, Westbury. He was a true patron of the arts with a love for painting, classical music and the theatre as well as an ardent supporter of the League of Women Voters. A Funeral Service was held on Tuesday June 24 with Burial following in the New Montefiore Cemetery. Family will receive friends at 45 Hillpark Ave #1S in Great Neck Thursday 1-5 and 7-9pm and Friday 10-2pm.
If you have any memories of Leo Meyer that you would like to share or memories of your days at PS 104, please email them to Skip Weinstock at rockaway@astound.net
August 12, 2008
I attended P.S. 104 from 1943 until I graduated in 1950.
At that time Joseph Grosfeld was the principal of the school.
The connections comes in to Leo Meyer is that my mother Kate Klein was the
school secretary from 1942 until she retired around mid 60's. She worked for
several principals after Grosfeld left ,, the last being Leo Meyer.
She always spoke highly of him, and worked well together with him.
Any students from the of P.S. 104 from the mid 40's, 50's and 60's surely know
who Kate Klein was. She was a no nonsense person.
Lester Klein Email Address:
LKlein1126@aol.com
June 30, 2008
When I attended P.S.104 in the 60s, until my sixth grade
graduation in 1972, Leo Meyer was the principal. While I was thankfully never
called to the principal's office, at least not that I recall, he succeeded in
making this school one of the best in art and academics. His reputation as a
no-nonsense educator was known to all who knew him or passed his staunch
presence in the hallways. He wasn't exactly feared, but he commanded respect and
he received it. He wanted the best of his staff and students, and he demanded it
of them.
Mr. Meyer was extremely proud of the school magazine, the "Sandpiper," published
annually and the recipient of numerous awards. I remember a glass showcase on
the first floor of the school displayed the winning issues. He worked with the
staff of the "Sandpiper," striving for excellence on each and every page. While
I wasn't on the staff, I'm extremely proud that my first published works were in
many of those publications.
Mr. Meyer's June obituary notice in Newsday mentioned his love of art and music.
At P.S. 104, art and music were always an important part of a student's daily
life. At the time, my art teacher, Mrs. Ronnie Ostrow Alfano, a somewhat
non-traditional teacher, who dressed as colorfully and as abstract as some of
her art projects, must have gained more than a glancing note of fashion
disapproval from the principal, but he let her do what she did best, teach art
to impressionable students. How well I remember a supply closet filled with
shelf after shelf of huge jars of paints in every color of the rainbow. No
expense was spared, we had all that we needed from paper to brushes and so much
more. Music filled the assembly and opened new worlds to children who may not
have had the privilege of such an education in their homes. How grateful we are
to have had such a man, at this time in our lives, who had the vision to include
art and music in our lives as well as the traditional reading, math and history.
I can't imagine how much would have been missing in so many of our lives if Mr.
Meyer's love of art and music hadn't infiltrated the halls of 104.
If anyone has photos of P.S.104, the teachers, both past and present, as well as
their whereabouts today, please post them. Also, maybe Mr. Meyer's family could
post a more recent photo of him. Thanks!
Susan Friedman Email Address:
susan2288@aol.com
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