Full obituary

Friends recall the gentlemanly nature, high standards of Mr. Pocuis

By Rhonda Westfall

He may not have been physically present in his ‘home’ community for a number of years, but "Mr. Pocuis" was always close in spirit to his many, many friends in the St. Johns area – and his name is still seen on a daily basis at Pocuis Auditorium.

B. Stanley Pocuis, a former principal of Rodney B. Wilson High School and superintendent of the Clinton County Intermediate School District, passed away Aug. 4 in Bradenton, Fla. He was 90.

The thoughts that those friends, many of whom were former students and co-workers at Rodney B. Wilson High School, have of B. Stanley Pocuis were – and are – always positive.

"I don’t know of any person who was more caring and concerned than he was – he was always a gentleman," said Edna Flegler, the ‘Girl Friday’ for Mr. Pocuis during 18 years of his tenure as principal at RBW. "He was always considerate of everyone on the staff – it was a pleasure working with him."

The high standards and work ethic that Mr. Pocuis exemplified carried over to individuals like Flegler, and those who ‘followed in his footsteps.’ Bill Swears served his own stint as principal, following Mr. Pocuis when the ‘new’ high school – St. Johns High School – opened for the 1969-70 school year.

"He was probably one of the most special men I’ve ever met," Swears said. "He was an easy person to follow because he set such high standards and the program and the school system was in such good shape when he left.

"The atmosphere at the school and the morale was wonderful – he was always on top of everything, and was a great person to work for."

Both Flegler and Swears recall a "mannerism" that underlies the standards that Mr. Pocuis espoused and the gentlemanly qualities he was known for.

"When he was working in the office, I never, ever saw him leave without putting his suit jacket back on – he might be in shirt-sleeves in the office, but not when he went out the door," Flegler said.

Swears agreed.

"I was a new teacher in 1958 when he hired me, and my classroom was right next to his office," Swears recalled. "I really hated teaching wearing a suit jacket – but I always put it on when I left the classroom and went out – it just seemed like the proper thing to do."

Mr. Pocuis had called Florida home in recent years, enjoying retirement with his beloved wife, Millie. She passed away in October 2002. He is survived by one daughter, Susan Kay Calva of Alhambra, Calif., and one son, Dr. D. Leo Pocuis of Bremerton, Wash.

A family service was held in Bradenton. A memorial service will be held this fall in St. Johns.