Evanston Obituary: Peter Noznick

The following obituary is courtesy of Donnellan Family Funeral Services.

Peter Noznick, long time child-care coordinator for Evanston-Skokie School District 65, passed away on November 16, 2014 at Glenbrook Hospital from acute myeloid leukemia.

Known as “Mr. Pete”, he worked with principals, group leaders, site coordinators, students and parents for over 25 years. He was a “people person” with a great sense of humor, but was also well organized and a good communicator. He was well liked by everyone who knew and worked with him.

Pete was born in Chicago in 1948 and grew up in Evanston Illinois. He attended District #65 Schools and graduated from Evanston Township High School in 1966. He graduated Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois, with a degree in Economics in 1970. Immediately after graduation, he was drafted, and served in the United States Army.

Pete was an Eagle Scout. During he was in high school and college, he worked as a counselor and water front director at Camp Wabaningo, the former Evanston Council Boy Scout Camp in Duck Lake, Michigan. He also served as water front director at the summer camps of the Orange Mountain Boy Scout Council in New Jersey. He taught hundreds of scouts water safety skills, swimming and life saving.

He worked for a number of years in private business, but decided to return to what he really loved to do, working with children and young people. He attended National Louis University and received his teaching credentials. While he was at National Louis, he was the Director of the Nichols Lighted School, a community evening program providing recreation and adult education services for adults, children and teens in Nichols Community.

Pete worked for Evanston-Skokie District #65 School Age Child Care in beginning in 1987. He worked to develop programs that reinforced academic skills and provided meaningful activities for all the children in child-care, including those with special needs. He developed relationships with community groups that brought programs to Child Care including the Evanston Art Center and Northwestern University. In his early days with School Age Child Care, he presented science experiment demonstrations for the children, using the name Dr. Zon. He also helped to develop the popular Optional Care field trip program, which provides all day child-care on district 65 in-service and conference days. He proudly stated that he never lost a child on a field trip.

After retirement, Pete became a Master Gardner at the Chicago Botanic Garden. He was an enthusiastic volunteer until his illness slowed him down. He was an interpreter at Sansho En: the Mallott Japanese Garden and the Model Railroad.

Pete was the son of the late Peter and Julia Koshuba Noznick of Evanston. He is survived by his brother Andrew of Windham Center, Connecticut; sister and brother-in-law, Pauline Noznick- Gerstein and Alan Gerstein of Wilmette; and nephew, David Gerstein of Little Rock, Arkansas; cousins and friends.

A memorial service is planned for Saturday, June 6, 2:00 p.m. at Northminster Presbyterian Church, 2515 Central Park Ave, Evanston, Illinois.

Memorial Donations may be made to:
Knox College, 2 East South St, Galesburg Illinois 61401-4999
The Boy Scouts of America, North East Illinois Council, 2745 Skokie Valley Rd, Highland Park, Illinois 60035.