Williamsville School District remembers teacher Jim Neimira

Judy Niemira places ceremonial dirt on the tree planted in memory of her husband Jim, who passed away unexpectedly in June. Photo by Joe Eberle Purchase color photos at www.BeeNews.com

On Friday, Sept. 21 members of the Williamsville Central School District gathered to remember a "highly respected," administrator who passed away in June.

A tree was planted at the Casey Road complex to honor Jim Niemira, who had served as the district's human resource supervisor.

He had worked for the school district for 12 years and was a highly respected, beloved member of the staff, a representative of the district said.

His wife, Judy, is the school nurse at South High School. She took part in the ceremony by shoveling a symbolic mound of dirt at the base of the newly planted tree.

Mr. Niemira was a Vietnam War veteran and had worked for Gen. Norman Schwartzkopf. He was also assigned to the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.

Employees of the district had voiced a desire to do something in his memory and decided to plant a tree outside of his office.

"Every day when we walk by this tree, distracted perhaps by the complexities and the complication of our work and the relationships in which we are about to re-engage, we can take pause to remember Jim," Ralph Smith, assistant superintendent for human resources, said during the ceremony. "Maybe for just a fleeting moment, we can reflect on all those qualities that he brought to his work - wisdom, character, dedication, loyalty, selflessness, courage and compassion. Each of us can pause and reflect on the character that we saw in our own relationships with Jim."

An interim plaque was unveiled on Friday, and a permanent cast bronze marker will be set in place in a few weeks when the tree has had a chance to settle into its new spot.