Stephen B. Witt, a dedicated education advocate for the students of Nassau County and board member of the Board of Cooperative Educational Services of Nassau County (Nassau BOCES) died October 13, 2024. He was 88.

He served on the Board for eight terms and 23 years of service. He was Board President from 2009 to 2014 and retired from the Board in 2019.

During his tenure, Mr. Witt played a role in numerous advancements at Nassau BOCES and in public education throughout Nassau County and the state. Most notably he helped develop the Board strategy to begin purchasing buildings instead of renting them. This initiative has saved Nassau County taxpayers millions of tax dollars. He was especially dedicated to students with special needs.

Mr. Witt was also a longstanding member of the Hewlett-Woodmere School Board, serving on that board for 27 years. He was awarded the district's Distinguished Service Award and the 2009 Town of Hempstead Make a Difference Award. For many years, he was a coach for the football, basketball and lacrosse teams at Hewlett High School.

A local and state leader, Mr. Witt served as president, vice president and treasurer of the Nassau-Suffolk School Boards Association (N-SSBA) and was on the Board of Directors of the New York State School Boards Association (NYSSBA). Mr. Witt was awarded the NYSSBA Distinguished Service Award and received the association’s highest honor – the Everett R. Dyer Award for Distinguished School Board Service – in 2009.

Mr. Witt received numerous other awards for outstanding service, including the Nassau BOCES Education Partner award; the Tri-M Honor Society Honorary Lifetime Membership Award; the Lifetime PTA Membership Award; the President's Volunteer Service Award, presented by the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation; and the Kiwanis Pediatric Trauma Center Foundation Fellow Award for his work with children.