by Joseph RADDER
Joan Bozer is always thinking in a creative way and encouraging
those around her who are resistant to change to do the same. Her urging isn’t always
gentle, but it’s very persuasive, and usually effective.
One of Joan’s favorite causes is cleaning up the environment. With Walter Simpson of
SUNY, she founded and co-chairs the Western New York Sustainable Energy Association. Its
goal is to promote the development of renewable energy through the use of solar and wind
power. And she practices what she preaches, She and her husband, Dr. John Bozer, drive
hybrid cars, use a passive solar system to help heat their home, and are planning to add
solar panels to their home this year to generate electricity
Active in the League of Women Voters, Bozer is particularly interested in the issue of
urban sprawl. “Sprawl creates more automobile traffic and therefore more
pollution,” she says, “not to mention the added expense for highways and the
individuals who commute longer distances.”
A third major activity is her chairmanship of the government relations committee of the
Citizens Regional Transit Corporation, a non-profit organization dedicated to reducing the
area’s automobile traffic through expansion of Metro Rail into the suburbs and to the
airport.
“The goals of all three of these groups go together” she said. “Renewable
energy, stopping sprawl, and reducing automobile traffic will all contribute to cleaner
air.” Global warming is also an issue that interests Joan Bozer and she is convinced
that air pollution is a major cause of global warming.
A native of Westchester County, Joan grew up in Pelham Manor, New York. Her parents, were
Tom and Ruth Kendig. Her father owned a manufacturing business and her mother was a
librarian. “My father’s views of business were somewhat unique for those days.
He believed that the best growth opportunity for American manufacturers was expansion into
foreign markets. When I came to Buffalo, I carried that idea with me and through his
mentoring was instrumental in founding the International Trade Council.” That
organization now has an annual award to companies successful in overseas marketing and the
award is named for Joan Bozer’s father, Thomas Hart Kendig.
Her best childhood memories relate to the pleasures of living near New York City. “I
used to love to go into New York on the train and experience all of the excitement of the
city including the ships coming in from all over the world. I still love New York,”
she says.
Joan attended high school in Pelham, New York then went to Dean Junior College in
Massachusetts. After earning her degree there she came to Buffalo where she would later
earn a BA degree in history and government at SUNY’s Empire State College. Joan
Kendig married Dr. John Bozer in 1951. “We just celebrated our 50th wedding
anniversary. We were married in my home town of Pelham when John was in his final year of
medical school.” Dr. Bozer, by the way, is a prominent Buffalo cardiologist. The
Bozers have four children and seven grandchildren.
Before getting actively involved in politics, Joan Bozer was president of the League of
Women Voters, president of the Junior League of Buffalo, and Chair of what was then known
as the National Conference of Christians and Jews. In these positions she became
interested in elective office and ran for a seat on the Buffalo City Council in 1975, but
was defeated by the incumbent. Soon thereafter, however, County Legislator Susan Lubick
left for Washington and Joan Bozer ran successfully to fill that position, representing
what is now the 4th District. While a Legislator, Joan led drives which resulted in
several milestone pieces of legislation. Most important of these, perhaps, was her fight
to save the Old Post Office and convert it to the downtown campus of Erie Community
College. Always interested in preservation, she has an exciting idea for ECC. “The
county should acquire the historic Ellicott Square building for classrooms, tear down the
buildings between Ellicott Square and the present college and create a campus park in
between the two for the enjoyment of the students and general public as well. Linking
these two downtown landmarks is a dream of mine,” she said. Those who know Joan Bozer
also know she has a way of making dreams come true.
Her most recent dreams to bear fruit were the three solar energy exhibits sponsored by the
Women’s Pavilion for the Pan American Exposition centennial, of which she was a
founder.
Joan Bozer calls herself a “gadfly”. Webster says that’s a person who
intentionally stimulates and provokes others. Somewhat true, but those who know Joan Bozer
well know that she does this in a very charming way and that’s probably why she gets
results.
She can’t say enough about “the importance of activities as they relate to the
environment. I feel all of these things, renewable energy, fighting sprawl, and promoting
the expansion of our light rail rapid transit system to reduce the number of automobiles
on the streets are all inter-related. “Buffalo has so much,” she says “I
can’t imagine a more livable city than Buffalo. but it has to be livable for
everybody. We must provide access to jobs and recreation to those who do not own cars.
I’m frustrated that we don’t yet have public transportation to any of our county
parks.”
“Live every day to the fullest and bloom where you’re planted.” Joan Bozer
truly lives this philosophy. She’s one of the most active people we know, and
that’s what keeps her forever young.
Joseph Radder is a freelance writer.