On Saturday June 11, the Cazenovia Central School District will hold a naming ceremony at the high school baseball field to honor former district superintendent Robert “Bob” S. Dubik, who passed away in 2014 a few months after his retirement due to an illness.
At 2 p.m. at the Sean M. Googin Sports Complex on Fenner Rd. in Cazenovia, current Cazenovia Superintendent Matthew Reilly will welcome those in attendance and introduce special guests. The Cazenovia Chamber Choir will sing the “National Anthem” and “Take Me Out to the Ball Game.”
After a few additional remarks, the new field signage will be unveiled. There will be free baseball fare (hot dogs, drinks, snacks) available to those in attendance. The event is open to the public.
In March 2015, the Cazenovia Board of Education unanimously approved the proposal to name the Robert S. Dubik Memorial Baseball Field. Dubik retired in June 2014 after 38 years in the field of education, and the last 10 years as Cazenovia’s superintendent. Shortly after his retirement, he was diagnosed with cancer, and passed away at his home just five months later.
Dubik was born in Erie, Pa., and, although he resided in New York for most of his life, he was a lifelong Pittsburgh Pirates fan. His district office was filled with Pirates memorabilia, and every year he went to Pittsburgh at least once to watch a Pirates game with his father. Dubik was a member of the New York State Baseball Umpires Association and, after the Sean M. Googin Memorial Sports Complex’s new varsity baseball field was completed in 2011, Dubik threw out the first pitch on May 7.
The school district said one of the signs at the field will read as follows: “Dedicated June 2016 in honor of Mr. Robert S. “Bob” Dubik, retired Superintendent of the Cazenovia CSD. Bob was an avid fan of the game of baseball, an esteemed high school and college baseball umpire, CCSD Superintendent when this baseball field was designed and built, a career educator and most importantly a loving father and husband.”
