Collaboratory to host private screening of movie ‘Dozier’ on Dec. 10
The feature film “Dozier” will be shown during a private screening at Collaboratory Wednesday, Dec. 10.
The two-hour film, directed by Max Leonida, recounts the harrowing 1981 kidnapping of Fort Myers resident, retired Major Gen. James L. Dozier.
In 1981, Dozier lived in Verona, Italy, with his wife and served as the chief of staff at NATO’s southern European land forces. He was kidnapped on Dec. 17, 1981, by the Italian terrorist group Brigate Rosse (Red Brigades). The Italian National Police SWAT team rescued him after 42 days in captivity. His courage and conduct during this ordeal were recognized by President Ronald Reagan, who welcomed him to the White House on several occasions.
Dozier will attend the screening and his book, “Finding My Pole Star,” which details his life and experiences, will be available for sale.
He is a retired U.S. Army officer who served 35 years in the military with significant staff and command assignments with the U.S. Army and NATO in the United States, Europe and Asia. During his service in Vietnam, Dozier was awarded the Silver Star and Bronze Star for heroism and the Purple Heart for combat wounds.
Born in Arcadia, Fla., he graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point.
On retirement from active Army military service in 1985, he returned to Fort Myers and has been actively engaged in community groups and veterans’ organizations, including the Lee County Electric Cooperative, the Collaboratory, the Florida Commission on Veterans Affairs, the Southwest Council Boy Scouts of America, the Fort Myers Heart Walk, Rotary Club, the Lee Coast Chapter Military Officers Association of America, among others. In 2015 he was inducted into the Florida Veterans Hall of Fame.
The film will be shown twice on Dec. 10. Seats are available for the 7 p.m. screening. The 4 p.m. seating is sold out. Refreshments will be served.
While tickets are not being sold, donations to the Major General Dozier JROTC Support Fund are encouraged. All contributions will benefit Lee County JROTC training programs, supporting initiatives not funded by other sources for students pursuing careers as commissioned officers in the United States Armed Forces.
Checks should be made payable to Collaboratory, with the memo line reading: MG Dozier JROTC Spt. Fund. To reserve tickets, email Steve Epkins at sepkins@proton.me and include number of tickets, and names of ticket holders.
About Collaboratory
Collaboratory is a regional community foundation with an evolved mission committed to coordinating the solving of Southwest Florida’s major social problems by 2040. Not alone, but with everyone-the entire community working together across all five counties: Lee, Hendry, Glades, Charlotte and Collier.
Collaboratory provides community leadership, raises and coordinates funding, and disburses funds to organizations that are helping solve the problems our donors and the community have identified as priorities. Collaboratory also provides capacity building with training and resources for regional partners. Given the complexities of the social challenges in our region, Collaboratory ensures we are all working together and that every generous donor achieves the biggest impact with their funds. By using and sharing data to track progress, we ensure that donor dollars are best invested to move the needle on improving social issues.
To learn more and get involved, call 239-274-5900 or visit collaboratory.org.