Kozis remembered as dedicated public servant
NEWELL – No one’s exactly sure how many years John Kozis served as either the mayor or council member in Newell, but all who worked with him said his sudden death Sunday will leave a void in the community. Kozis, 75, died Sunday at Brownsville General Hospital, the victim of an apparent heart attack. He was currently serving as mayor of Newell, having been elected in November.
It marked his return to Newell politics after two years off.
Former borough secretary Elizabeth Myrga said Kozis joined the council in the early 1980s, and served as the vice president and president of council over the years. She wasn’t certain if he had been on council prior to when she was hired in 1980, but thought he had at least 20 and maybe as many as 30 years in office.
“John and I were good friends. He was very nice to work with and to work for.
“He was willing to listen to any complaints the citizens had, and he was willing to do something about them.
“He was very active in the Tri-County Boroughs Association, too. He never missed a meeting there,” Myrga said.
Council president Joseph Dandrea Jr. said Kozis had been in office as long as he could remember.
“This borough will never replace him. He was a man dedicated to serving the community, Dandrea said.
“A few years ago, he and my dad built the playground. They got the grants and got people to donate their equipment and their time.”
Dandrea said Kozis was also concerned about public safety.
“It’s a sad day for Newell. He worried about things with the railroad and the chemical plant for public safety,” Dandrea said.
Bernadette Guiser is the current borough secretary. She said Kozis’ death is a loss the community will definitely feel.
It’s going to be a great loss. John was one of the principle people who went out and got grant money for the borough over the years,” Guiser said.
Guiser said Kozis most recently sought a $10,000 grant from Fayette County for the honor roll in Newell.
He was an active member of the Veterans of Foreign War in Newell and also of the Santa Barbara Club.
“He was our adjutant. We don’t have a post home, but he was as active as anyone, showing up when we did things for Memorial Day and things like that,” said Carl Lama Jr., the VFW commander in Newell.
Lama also previously served on council with Kozis.
“He was a good person on council. He had the best of the community at heart and he’ll be missed,” Lama said.
Funeral arrangements are being handled by the Eley-McCrory Funeral Home in Fayette City.