We are deeply saddened to share the news that our District Superintendent, Dr. Robert R. Dillon, died on July 28. Dr. Dillon underwent spinal surgery in April and unfortunately suffered a series of complications. We extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends and colleagues during this difficult time.
Since joining Nassau BOCES in 2015, Dr. Dillon dedicated himself to serving the 56 school districts in Nassau County and their nearly 200,000 students. He was an educational visionary who believed that all students deserved the best education.
He began his career in 1975 as a special education teacher and had a special place in his heart for the thousands of students with special needs that our Agency served during his tenure. He also championed the rights of students who wanted to attend BOCES career and technical education programs.
Below are just a few of Dr. Dillon’s many accomplishments at Nassau BOCES:
- Leading the Agency through the COVID-19 pandemic;
- Advocating tirelessly for equitable access to BOCES career and technical education programs through the “All Means All” campaign;
- Revitalizing the Long Island High School for the Arts (LIHSA) to make it more robust and appealing to districts and students, resulting in the highest enrollment ever in the 2022-23 school year;
- Transforming the LIHSA into a New York State-certified career and technical education program, providing students with more opportunities;
- Expanding our career and technical education opportunities by adding the Gerald R. Claps Technical Education Center (CTE) in Levittown as well as a half-day CTE model for special education students at the Career Preparatory High School;
- Pushing for increased mental health student support resulting in:
- The creation of a Mental Health Consortium, which serves all 56 Nassau County school districts, seven Suffolk County districts and the Diocese of Rockville Centre.
- A white paper on the need for inpatient and day-treatment mental health services for children and adolescents. Thanks to his dedication, the Agency is currently exploring options to provide day-treatment services in Nassau County.
- Increasing special education capacity by opening new facilities such as the Robert Williams School and the Children’s Readiness Center at Endo opening this September;
- Supporting the Long Island Pre-K Initiative, which eventually led to the creation of New York State’s first Regional Pre-K Technical Assistance Center on Long Island.
- Innovating all programs to meet the ever-changing needs of students across Long Island and the educational landscape;
- Overseeing successful referenda for the purchases of the Carman Road School and Jerusalem Avenue School; and
- Bringing together hundreds of educators, thought leaders, students and other stakeholders to consider the future of education in New York via the Reimagining Readiness workshop series.
Service Information
Visitation
Tuesday, August 01
3 to 8 p.m.
Fairchild Sons Funeral Home
1201 Franklin Avenue, Garden City, NY 11530
Service
Wednesday, August 02
10:45 a.m.
The Cathedral of St. Agnes
29 Quealy Place
Rockville Centre, NY 11570
Cemetery
Queen of Peace Cemetery
16 Powell Lane
Old Westbury, NY 11590
The family asks that in lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Nassau BOCES Educational Foundation.
Sympathy cards may be sent to:
The Dillon Family
11 Jansen Ct.
Walden, NY 12586
