I can’t believe how much I miss my big brother.  His absence left a void that can never be filled. I feel so much closer to him now than ever before. I miss you terribly…❤️

Little Johnny in the yard…he was just so cute!

Dad and John - love this shot.  Not an easy relationship, but took care of Dad to the very end...

Dad, Mom and a 15yr old John, standing in front of Dad’s shop, The Elmhurst Florist, on Queens blvd...

John and Jax…one of my favorite shots…I used to tell them they had no idea how similar they were…funny how that happens!

Johnny and Claire…My big bro!  I was like his little doll…then I started talking and it was downhill from there!  ;))

Our little family…Terri, John, Jax, Dawn, Claire...

I always called it ‘our little family’…it was just us...

Auburndale Civics Association commemorates Terri’s years of service...

The wedding…
Claire, Alma, Terri, John, Carlos, Pete

Farewell Pops. Forever in my heart!
Alma Serrano

Words cannot begin to describe what John Pouymari meant to me.  Although I never had him as a teacher, I knew him as mentor, a friend, a dad. He was my “Pops”. I’ve known him since I was a 14 year old sophomore at Newtown High School. I actually had his wife, as my history teacher. They took interest in an inner city kid from a troubled home and believed in her. I have loved them as my parents for the better part of 40 yrs. He was humble, kind, loving, servant and gave me the belief that I could accomplish anything. I know there is surely a place in Heaven for him, where he will await his beloved Terri. I will love and miss you forever Pops. Forever in my heart!
Alma Serrano
Newtown HS Class of 1983

He will always be "Mr. Pouymari."

What you have to remember is that Mr. Pouymari was a brilliant and inspiring teacher for thousands of New York City public school students.  In an era of turmoil and uncertainty, wars and civil disorder, crowded schools and budget cuts, Mr. Pouymari dazzled us, provided us with the skills to research, write, debate, discuss, think, empathize, reflect and take action.  I was part of his 1968-1972 Newtown High School contingent studying Global History, and I will tell you, that Mr. Pouymari, through the intensity of his questions, provided us with something foundational, essential and serious.  He took us seriously and opened us up.  He taught us a series of "methods" for opening our minds and dissecting the world.  But he also made us think about the consequences of our actions.  Mr. Pouymari never imposed his beliefs upon us; he simply guided to to a place where we knew where we stood and he gave us the tools to explain ourselves to ourselves, and to others.  

Mr. Pouymari was well put together in conservative three piece suits. As he became energized, he shed the jacket.  He never shed the vest.
That would have been too much!

As a history and English teacher, I've channeled him every day of my teaching life and have regaled my own students with tales of Mr. Pouymari.   He taught us how to read carefully, how to take notes from a wide variety of sources, how to study for a test, how to write under pressure and how to be wholly coherent.  He was a great interrogator of ideas, but he was equally adept at gently helping us to express what we really felt.  He guided us out of our confusion.

Mr. Pouymari made us passionate students of history.  I am told he was also a brilliant administrator by students and teachers who worked with him in that capacity.  For my contingent of Newtown students, Mr. Pouymari was  the portal to all thinks intellectual.  I was lucky to have re-established contact with him  in 2014

Farewell to a colleague , friend and  fellow hunter. Rest in Peace, John.

John was a colleague of mine.  He was such a kind man. I i taught with him for 26 years. Althuogh  my sons and i attended Newtown, we were never lucky enough to have had him as a teacher. That was our loss. My condolences to his family for your loss. 

I got to know John a little over a year ago from helping him at a Mass in July 2022. I would also see him at Marino's on Saturday mornings. I started to talk to him there and that led to us becoming closer.  Eventually we would talk at each Saturday 5pm Mass before the celebration started. Recently we had been meeting for meals and having some great conversations. 

I say all this because in the span of a little over a year John left a lasting impact on me. He was intelligent,  well spoken and had a genuine heart. He ADORED his wife and cared for her immensely. When I heard the news last night I was devastated. We were making plans last week for our next dinner for Mexican food. He also had asked me to come with him when he was going to look for a new car. 

I feel like our friendship was growing and I looked forward to how much more it would develop in the future. I was a shoulder for him to talk about his difficult times this past year and he was a shoulder for me to learn about life from. He exhibited what a marriage should be like and how a man of Catholic faith should live. He was extremely generous and put others happiness before his own.

I will miss seeing him smile as we talked. I will miss planning our next food to enjoy. Most of all, I will continue to hate knowing that John is no longer in this world. As a middle aged man, he gave me something to strive to be as I get older. Rest easy John.

John was a wonderful member of the Newtown High School Family.  Condolences to his family.  

OBITUARY

John H. Pouymari

7 March, 1945 – 1 August, 2023

Frederick Funeral Home

Show your support

Add a Memory

Share Obituary

Get Reminders

Services