Oceanside field dedicated to Charles Mosback

On October 19, the Oceanside school district re-dedicated its high school athletic field as the “Charles R. Mosback Memorial Field” during a brief ceremony that took place during half-time of the Oceanside Sailors’ varsity football game against Massapequa. This occasion provided the Oceanside community to learn about one of its forgotten legends, Charles. R. Mosback.

Mosback was a teacher, coach, director, and principal in Oceanside over the course of 32 years. Originally hired by the district as its director of health and physical education in 1931, Mosback became a beloved teacher and coach as he led the high school’s football and basketball teams.

Mosback’s football team won the Nassau County championship in 1938, and included future Oceanside School District principals Stephen Poleshuk and William Helmke. Nine years later, Mosback was hired as principal of Oceanside High School to replace Dr. Walter S. Boardman, who had been appointed as the district’s school superintendent.

Mosback’s office was at the Merle Avenue School #6 until the High School building on Skillman Avenue opened in 1954. Mosback remained principal of Oceanside High School for 23 years (including the two years Mosback served in the United States Navy as a Lieutenant during World Ward II), before being forced to retire after suffering a stroke. Mosback’s impact was best described by Dr. Boardman, as written in a letter commemorating his 25th anniversary with the Oceanside School District:

“Sincerity, loyalty and energy have characterized your every action over all these years. Issues have been faced courageously and in firm resolve that right prevail. Your have been loyal to your professional associates, your Board of Education, and to your friends. The habit of giving your best, learned at home and on the filed of sport, has been taught and lived in every type of situation.”

It was only fitting that the Oceanside School Board chose to dedicate the Oceanside High School athletic track and field to the memory of Charles Mosback after his death. On October 20, 1973, prior to the start of the Oceanside-Baldwin football game, Mosback was “honored [as] one of our finest citizens and educators and recognized [for] his interest in, and contributions to, athletics in Oceanside.”

For someone who was always a football coach at heart, there was no better way to commemorate the memory of Mosback than half-time at a home football game in Oceanside. And to make the event even more special, as she did in 1973, Mosback’s daughter, Ruth Ann Bramson, participated in the ceremony on behalf of the Mosback family.