Honor Ronald Peoples' Legacy

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.