Late school trustee honored with tree planting

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Harris Dinkoff, who served on the District 13 Board of Education for 33 years, died on Dec. 31 after a brief illness. He was 89. On July 5, members of the District 13 school community gathered outside the James A. Dever Elementary School for a commemorative tree planting ceremony to honor his legacy.

Then-Board President William Stris recited a lengthy biographical sketch of Dinkoff’s service to the school community, and former school officials recited memories for some 40 attendees.

By all accounts, Dinkoff was heavily involved in the Valley Stream community. He was elected to the school board in 1970, and served concurrently on the Central High School District board beginning in 1971. He was also president of the Nassau-Suffolk School Boards Association, and was a high-ranking New York State School Boards Association official up until his death.

“Harris was one of the very few trustees I have worked with that encompassed the heart and soul of school board service,” Stris told the Herald in January. “We often disagreed without being disagreeable. I will miss his sharp wit and sense of humor.”

In 2003, Dinkoff retired from school board service. In lieu of a gift, at his retirement party, he requested donations to District 13 for the purchase of new books. Those donations amounted to nearly $2,000.

The dogwood tree was planted next to a brick in front of the kindergarten play area, and the brick cites his years of service to the school board.