Gerald "Jerry" Kozak
July 15, 1945 - June 10, 2020
Family was first and foremost to Gerald "Jerry" J. Kozak, in both his personal and professional lives. Mr. Kozak died unexpectedly of natural causes June 10 in Phoenix, Arizona. He was 74.
Mr. Kozak grew up in the Kaisertown neighborhood of Buffalo, the youngest of four children born to Stanley and Anne Swiatek Kozak. He was a 1963 graduate of Bishop Timon High School. In 1967, he earned a bachelor's degree in social work from Gannon University in Erie, PA. He and his wife Francine "Fran" Chlebowski were high school sweethearts and married on June 10, 1967.
Mr. Kozak served in the U.S. Army from 1968 to 1970, mostly at Kishine Barracks Army Base in Japan, where he worked with soldiers who had been injured and traumatized in Vietnam. Mrs. Kozak was a civilian nurse in the burn treatment center of the 106th General Hospital on the base.
After his service, the Kozaks returned to the Buffalo area, settling in North Tonawanda in 1973. In 1971, he earned a master's degree in social work from the University at Buffalo and worked in social services at Buffalo General Hospital, Child & Family Services in Buffalo and in private practice with a local psychiatrist.
In 1976, Mr. Kozak was hired as Executive Director by Family & Children's Service of Niagara, where he guided the agency's growth for 21 years. During his tenure, the staff increased from 11 to over 70 and the annual budget from $150,000 to $2.5 million. His title was also changed to President and CEO. Among other accomplishments, he established the first Family Resource Center in Western New York in the Newfane Central School District. He was also recognized for his work in the PASSAGE Program, which assisted victims of domestic violence and child and elder abuse. In 1998, Family & Children's Service of Niagara created the Gerald J. Kozak Community Partnership Award to honor Mr. Kozak.
In 1979, Mr. Kozak received the Rita A. Mulligan Award from Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Niagara County for his outstanding service to single-parent families. In 1996, he was named Social Worker of the Year by the Western New York Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers and received the Professionalism in Mental Health Award from the Mental Health Association of Niagara County. In 1997, he received an award from the United Way of Niagara for outstanding service. He was a Certified Social Worker and a member of the Association of Certified Social Workers.
In 1997 he moved to Phoenix, where he worked for Child Protective Services from 1998 to 2010. After retirement, he volunteered as a Court Appointed Special Advocate for foster children and was active in a youth mentorship program.
An avid fan of the Buffalo Bills and Sabres, Mr. Kozak enjoyed traveling. He and his wife, Fran, visited many states and countries with family and friends. The couple and their family spent decades of summers at Long Beach in Wainfleet, ONT, first renting and then in their own lakefront summer home. Mr. Kozak loved music of various genres including polka music and dancing.
In addition to his wife, Fran, of 53 years, Mr. Kozak is survived by a daughter, Jennifer (spouse James) Lutton; a son, David (spouse Jaime) Kozak; a brother, Donald Kozak; a sister, Audrey Niewiemski; grandchildren, Brendon, Sydney, Elizabeth and Lillian; and many nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at a later date.
Contributions in Mr. Kozak's memory can be made to Family & Children's Services of Niagara Inc., 1522 Main St., Niagara Falls, NY 14305.
Published on June 26, 2020
