This past Friday, the Buffalo Heritage Carousel held a dedication for “Friend of Buffalo,” Joan Bozer. Joan was one of the key people that helped to bring the solar-powered Buffalo Heritage Carousel to the waterfront. She was not only a fervent Friend of Buffalo, she was also a stalwart friend of the environment, who tirelessly pushed for more sustainable practices.
When I first got to know Joan, it was when I owned a store on Elmwood Avenue, called Thunder Bay. At the time, a set of items that I was selling was a fleet of small solar powered sculptures. When Joan needed a gift for a friend, she would stop in and purchase a solar object – a cyclist, Ferris Wheel, etc. Every time she popped in, we would talk about all of the untapped solar potential, and various other sustainable possibilities. She was absolutely fascinated with the idea that solar, wind, etc., could (and would) replace fossil fuels and other harmful, dated, and backward energy sources.
Years later, Joan called to tell me about an idea that she and a couple of her friends had dreamed up. Of course I’m referring to the Buffalo Heritage Carousel that now sits proudly, front and center at Canalside. The funny thing is, when she first told me about the Carousel, I had no doubt that she was going to pull it off. She was ambitious and driven, there is no doubt. She also had a way with people, which meant that they listened to her. If Joan was passionate about a concept, it meant that everyone was “all ears,” and ready to lend a hand.
The Carousel project was not an easy one, but to me it was one of the greatest success stories that I have witnessed in recent years. That’s because the project was fueled by an unbridled passion for sustainable energy, the waterfront, artisanry, Buffalo history, technology, and family. Joan knew that this was going to be a gift to Buffalo unlike anything that it had ever received. She realized that every family that would take a ride on the contraption would not only walk away with smiles on their faces, they would also have a better connection to the environment.
Joan Bozer cared for this planet in ways that are uncanny. And she left behind a gift that will live on to tell her story. Her story? Well, the Carousel embodies everything that she stood for. Having an appreciation for the Carousel is akin to having an appreciation for Joan.
I considered Joan a friend and mentor. I looked up to her for her zealous nature. She demonstrated that with a bold vision and a relentless sticktoitiveness, anything is possible. To me, she has paved the way for other dreamers and visionaries, to follow her lead, and to do whatever it takes to make a better Buffalo, while caring for the planet along the way. She will certainly be missed, and fondly remembered for countless reasons.
A note from the dedication:
On Friday, May 19, the Buffalo Heritage Carousel dedicated one of the animals on the carousel to Joan K. Bozer for her inspiration, unwavering faith and enthusiasm that Buffalo deserved a solar powered carousel on its revitalized waterfront.
Joan Bozer was the visionary driving force -from acquiring the carousel to guiding the process of restoration to installation of the carousel – ensuring it remained forefront in everyone’s mind for almost 20 years until its completion in 2021. May 26, 2021 saw the completion of her vision with the opening of the fully restored 1924 Spillman Engineering Carousel, carved in N. Tonawanda. Originally it was shipped up the Erie Canal to what was supposed to be its final destination, Hoak’s Neck, MA. It is our good fortune 92 years later to see its return to its birthplace in Western New York. This year marks the 99th anniversary of the fully restored, hand-carved, menagerie Carousel. Today we celebrate Joan’s sustained leadership with a joyful recognition of her devotion to our community and this project with the naming of an animal as a fitting tribute to Joan Bozer.
This dedication would not be possible without the generous support of The Baird Foundation, Catherine Schweitzer, and Joan’s many friends.