News Item
Monticello Schools: Remembering Board of Education Member Eugene Nesin
June 2009
Eugene Nesin was elected to the Monticello School Board in 1976.
His years of service reflected his bond with the community he
loved and support for the
children
of Monticello Schools. At the time of his death this past
February, he had devoted a total of 33 years serving the
Monticello Central School District community, 14 of those as the
Board vice president.
On Wednesday, June 10, the George L. Cooke Elementary School
honored Mr. Nesin by planting a tree in his
memory.
“Eugene was known as the Cooke School guardian,” said Principal
Sandra Johnson-Fields. “We planted a tree for him because it is
the perfect symbol of the unwavering support he gave to help
this school grow and flourish.”
The brief ceremony was attended by at least five dozen family
members, friends and school district associates and included a
musical performance by the school’s 2nd graders, a reading of
the classic children’s book, The Giving Tree by Shel
Silverstein, and a presentation of a replica of the memorial
plaque that will be displayed at the base of the tree.
As a tribute to Eugene’s passion for Monticello Schools’ music
program, a scholarship to support young musicians in grades 8-12
has been established in his name. It will be administered with
the help of Monticello High School music teachers Ann Trombley
and Nancy Wegrzyn. Donations may be sent to the “Eugene D. Nesin
Memorial Scholarship” c/o Ellen Nesin, 85 Rock Ridge Drive,
Monticello, NY 12701. For questions or more information, please
call Ellen at 845-794-6013.
Eugene left behind five children and seven grandchildren. His daughter Jessica is a freshman at Monticello High School and wrote the following:
“A Poem in Memory of My Dad”
Whoever thought that the warmth of a dancing flame could be
extinguished in a single breath.
It leaves us in the unwelcoming darkness and with it steals our
happiness and joy.
Our feelings of comfort are replaced with ones of doubt and
sadness.
A blanket of uncertainty is spread above our thoughts.
Yet, this flame has not departed without kindling others into
bright, leaping flames.
All telling us of its life that has passed - a familiar tale to
our hearts and minds.
They caress our memories and fill us with warmth once more.
Our comfort returns and the blanket is lifted.
We live among its memories – among the stories of a life
fulfilled.
Photo: From left, George L. Cooke
Elementary School teachers Joann Belgiovene and Jennifer Somers
read the book The Giving Tree to the attendees at the recent
Eugene Nesin memorial dedication ceremony.
Photo: Monticello Schools Superintendent Dr. Patrick Michel,
left, commended the late Nesin for the quality of his service to
the Board and presented his widow, Ellen Nesin, with a replica
of the plaque that will be placed in the school’s garden next to
the Eugene D. Nesin memorial tree.
Photo: The late Eugene Nesin.