Fred Podolski, Nassau BOCES director, dies at 60

Fred Podolski, an executive director at Nassau BOCES and enthusiast for all things technological, died Friday after a long battle with prostate cancer. He was 60.

As his regional agency's top administrator for curriculum, instruction and technology, Podolski established a first-ever technology "summit" for Long Island educators in 2005.

Two years later, he helped win a $1 million federal grant to improve American history instruction throughout Nassau County.

Last year, Podolski helped develop a new $18 million high-tech center for teacher training in Westbury. Colleagues Tuesday remembered his visionary views on instructional technology.

"He was always at 30,000 feet when it came to the potential of technology, and he was always trying to get everyone else up to 30,000 feet, too," said Robert J. Hanna, deputy superintendent at Nassau BOCES.

At his North Massapequa home, Podolski was known as "Mr. Gadget" - always fiddling with the latest iPhone, iPad or laptop computer. Relatives were struck by the fact that he died at 10:10 p.m. on 10/1/10 - all numbers in the binary code used to operate computers.

"I told all his computer techie friends, and they appreciated it," said his wife, Debbie.

Fred Podolski joined Nassau's Board of Cooperative Educational Services in 1991. Before that, he worked as a technology teacher in upstate Oswego, and as an instructional technology specialist at state colleges in Oswego and New Paltz. He held bachelor's and master's degrees from SUNY Oswego.

As a Nassau BOCES executive director, Podolski headed a staff of more than 300 responsible for such areas as informational management and technology services. BOCES provides regional educational services for 300 schools throughout the county.

Besides his wife, survivors include a stepson, Erik Jaszcar of Manhasset and a brother, Terry Podolski, of upstate Lowville.

A prayer service was scheduled for 11 a.m. Wednesday at the McCourt & Trudden Funeral Home, 85 Main St., Farmingdale.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, P.O. Box 27106, New York, NY 10087-7106.