Daniel Bobis was a generation-bridging educator at both Long Beach and New Hyde Park high schools who inspired people with his attitude, lifestyle and his overall uniqueness. More than just a math teacher to many of his students, Bobis has left behind an everlasting impact on thousands of young people during his life that was tragically cut short.
Bobis was in Indonesia while on an international surf trip with his wife, Rachel, and a close friend. Fishermen recovered his body on July 28 about from his last known location. Bobis was 32.
“Daniel Bobis is totally irreplaceable,” said Cheriese Pemberton, director of the mathematics department at Long Beach High School. “He empowered youngsters with his innate ability to grasp the attention of any and every student.”
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Erik Estevez, a former student at New Hyde Park High, said of Bobis, “He managed to maintain his professionalism while living life to the extreme."
Known across the Long Island music scene with his hardcore punk bank Cipher, which he founded and was the drummer in, Bobis had an even greater impact within the surf community, particularly in Long Beach where he founded the public high schools surf program as well as the Long Beach Surf Association.
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“He remains a positive role model for young males,” Pemberton said. “It didn’t matter who; he was able to work collaboratively with his colleagues and his students to always improve. He was a true visionary.”
Bobis is survived by his wife.
There is currently a petition circulating to rename Laurelton Blvd in Long Beach “Daniel Bobis Blvd." according to a message on the Daniel Bobis Info Facebook page.
