John "Jack" Bobroff

John "Jack" Bobroff, age 78, resident of Albuquerque for 64 years, died Friday, January 3, in his home. Jack was born on the Walker River Paiute Reservation, Shurz, Neveda, the son of Henry Kenneth, a doctor for the Indian Health Service, and Millie (Crockenberg) Bobroff, a registered nurse. He was deeply impacted growing up with his younger brother, Robert Lyman, who was born with Down ’s syndrome. Jack attended Washington Jr. High and graduated from Albuquerque High School in 1963. He was an avid Lobo fan his entire life and earned his Bachelors, Masters, and Doctorate degrees in Education at the University of New Mexico. He began his career as an elementary teacher in 1957, retiring 37 years later as Superintendent of Albuquerque Public Schools. Jack taught junior high and high school English and Social Studies and served as Elementary, Junior High, and High School Principal, working at Mission Elementary, Taft Jr. High, Ernie Pyle Jr. High, Valley High, Kennedy/Tomasita and the Career Enrichment Center. Later he served as an Assistant Area Superintendent, Area Director of Middle Schools and Director of Staff Development for APS. He directed the UNM Community College and taught Basic English at the Technical Vocational Institute (CNM). Throughout his career he was always a strong advocate of parent advisory councils and PTA’s. Jack was APS Superintendent from 1988 to 1994. His proudest accomplishments in the position were leading the district’s transition from junior high schools to middle schools, year-round education, school-based health clinics (precursors of community schools), and site-based management/school improvement teams. He initiated strong efforts with northern and central New Mexico school districts to develop instructional support. The Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development and the New Mexico School Administrators named him “Administrator of the Year” and the Albuquerque and New Mexico School Secretaries associations named him “Boss of the Year”. Other distinctions included Albuquerque High Honor Graduate, Phi Delta Kappa Spotlight on Quality, Outstanding Service Award –United Way, Fellow at the National Endowment for the Humanities, University of Wisconsin, Conference Planning Committee and Board of Directors for the International Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, and President of New Mexico ASCD. At the heart of Jack’s leadership was bringing people and organizations together, putting aside differences to work for a common vision for teaching children. Throughout his life, Jack paid close attention to the people he worked with and almost always remembered the names of those he knew made a difference to children. He believed deeply in equality and the value of diversity. Upon being given the 2010 Martin Luther King Award, he said two of his proudest moments were being given a “Giraffe” Award for “sticking his neck out for kids” and helping found the MLK Multi-cultural Celebration, the City’s first and now in its 24th year. Jack carried three aphorisms with him: “Remember that nothing is as unequal as the equal treatment of unequals”; “We are created and are present on this earth to make things better, not to let things be”; and “It is better to seek forgiveness than to ask permission.” After retiring as Superintendent, Jack served on the Advisory Board of Eagles’ Wings Youth Ranch, Governing Board of Amy Biehl Charter High School, and Board of Directors of the New Mexico Educators Federal Credit Union. Jack served as a deacon at Hoffmantown Church and was active in the Men’s Ministries. As a Christian, his faith reinforced his beliefs that all people are created equal, that all should be treated with dignity and respect, that we must be slow to judge, and that we should all be committed to serving our fellow human beings. Jack leaves his beloved wife of 26 years, Bettye, and her brother, Paul Morris; son Jay Bobroff and his wife Louise Martinez, daughter Dana Bobroff and partner Michael Mirimanian, son Kip Bobroff and his wife Michele Pfeiffer, son Michael Bobroff, daughter Kara Bobroff, son-in-law Paul Campbell, and step-son Steven Coffey and his wife Sandra Ayala Coffey; grandchildren Jason Bobroff Clay, Desiree Martinez, Matthew Martinez, Jackie Bobroff, Reed Bobroff, Kaitlyn Coffey, and Gabriella Coffey; great-grandchildren Naomi, Nikki, and Josiah Martinez, Xander Parra, and Azzlyn Martinez; dear friend Ona Bellino; and many nieces, nephews, and friends. He was pre-deceased by his parents and brother. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to Eagles’ Wings Youth Ranch, PO Box 465, Mountainair, NM 87036 or the Native American Community Academy, 1000 Indian School Road NW, Albuquerque, NM 87104 (www.nacaschool.org). A visitation will be held Sunday, January 5, 2014, 3:00 p.m., at FRENCH – Wyoming. Memorial Services will be held Monday, January 6, 2014, 10:30 a.m., at Hoffmantown Church, 8888 Harper Dr. NE. A reception with time to share remembrances will follow the service. FRENCH – Wyoming 7121 Wyoming Blvd. NE (505) 823-9400

John "Jack" Bobroff

December 5, 1935 - January 3, 2014