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Born in England, his family immigrated to Brooklyn when he was a child.
Organisciak was the superintendent of the City School District of New Rochelle from August 2006 until he retired in October 2013. While in New Rochelle, he was selected to serve as one of eight members of the executive committee governing the New York State Council of School Superintendents.
"We are deeply saddened to hear the news of Richard's passing. Our heartfelt condolences go out to his family," said CSDNR board President Rachel Relkin.
Under his leadership, the CSDNR moved forward in the areas of technology opportunities for the district and its students, collecting and using data to drive decision-making, and placing an importance on the study of international languages.
"As his successor, I applaud the initiatives he began. They provided a solid foundation for the district to move forward," said Brian Osborne, CSDNR's current superintendent.
Organisciak was also involved in a broad range of community activities, was the recipient of many community awards and had a number of articles published in scholarly journals and magazines.
He had earned his bachelor's from Bernard Baruch College in 1973, a master's in education supervision and administration from there in 1977, and a law degree from New York Law School in 1989.
Organisciak enjoyed a long, successful and varied career with the New York City School District. In 1973, he began as a paraprofessional assistant in a reading class and quickly moved on to a teaching position.
In 1980, he became director of Operation Far Cry, a program he helped to create to retrieve high school dropouts. In 1983, he was selected to become the principal of High School Redirection in Brooklyn, followed in 1984 when he became the principal of the Offsite Educational Services Program.
In 1992, Organisciak became principal of George W. Wingate High School. From 1997-2003, he served as superintendent of Alternative Schools and Programs for the New York City Board of Education, and then from 2003-06, he was the superintendent of the Deer Park School District in Suffolk County.
He is survived by his wife, Ann Andreoli; his daughter Jana; his granddaughters, Jordana and Jemma; his sister Lilia; and his nieces Jillian and MacKenzie.
Entombment was at Holy Rood Cemetery in Westbury. Fairchild Sons Funeral Home in Garden City assisted with arrangements.
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