A. Merton "Ozzie" Bozoian
PrincipalA. Merton "Ozzie" Bozoian, 89, of Deerfield Ave., Middletown and Niantic, husband of Arline (Walter) Bozoian, died Thursday, (June 8, 2000) at the Middlesex Hospital. He was born in Brockton, MA, son of the late Merger and Yeukine (Ohanian) Bozoian.
Prior to his retirement, he was a school teacher and principal of Middletown and Cromwell High Schools.
At Avon, MA High School, he lettered for three years in baseball and two years in track. At Northeastern University, he was a member of the baseball and track squads.
Bozoian was a math teacher at Plainfield High School 1946-50, and while there he instituted a track program. He came to Middletown High School in 1950 and remained until 1970. He was track and cross country coach. Bozoian was then Principal of Cromwell High School from 1970 until 1975
Fred Post, former sports editor for The Middletown Press and a columnist for The Hartford Courant, said Bozoian treated his runners with respect. Post said he was a soft-spoken man who never yelled at his runners; instead, he would pull them aside and talk to them.
William Pomfret, director of the Middletown Hall of Fame, described Bozoian as quiet and personable, but with a great sense of humor. "He would always be ready with a one-liner," Pomfret said.
"He was elated, as we all were," said John DeNunzio, a former Middletown High baseball coach and fellow Hall of Famer. DeNunzio said Bozoian could always get the best out of his athletes. But he said he mainly considered Bozoian as a gentleman who was "laid back" and approachable.