Leading the Way - New York State Association for College Admission Counseling

For those of us who have served in SUNY for more years than we’d like to
count, today is indeed a sad day. Two of our founding members have
passed on and with them an important link to the growth and maturation
of both SUNY and SUNYCAP.

Dave Truax, admissions counselor, then director at Plattsburgh, then the
first Assistant Vice Chancellor for Enrollment at SUNY System, was a
true SUNY pioneer. A graduate of Cortland, he was SUNY to the core.
While his focus at Plattsburgh was Plattsburgh, he also understood the
bigger picture of SUNY and what SUNY could and should be. As president
of SUNYCAP and later on at SUNY System, he worked tirelessly for the
expansion of the SUNY message to all publics in and out of state. A true
gentleman, he was a keen observer of talent, as evidenced by the success
of Rich Higgins and Mike Walsh at Plattsburgh, and a mentor to dozens of
other young admission professionals who now hold positions of
significant responsibility.

Larry Appel. All you need to is say his name and people’s faces light up
and a “Larry” story comes to mind. For over 30 years Larry was Sullivan
County Community College. His favorite recruitment statement to the
thousands of guidance counselors he met with over his career was, “I’ll
gladly take the top 100% of your graduating class!” And he meant it with
all his heart. Larry also was the poster child for the community college
movement. He believed deeply in the mission and the opportunity that our
community colleges offered to all New Yorkers. In the early days, his
voice was sometimes the only, unapologetic voice, that spoke for the
community colleges. Those of you who serve your regions as members of
community colleges owe a huge debt to Larry for his tireless efforts.
And that was just one side of Larry. SUNY was also Larry’s life and his
involvement in a variety of SUNYCAP ventures testifies to this. For
decades, it seemed, Larry’s presentation at New Professional
Orientation, helped to lead many of us to successfully navigate that
first, confusing, year in admissions.

For those of us who had the privilege to know, to work with, break bread
with and laugh with Dave and Larry, this is a bittersweet time for sure.
Yet remember there can be no doubt amongst us that we are better
professionals and better people for having shared the experience.

God bless.

Rich Bodenschatz
SUNY New Paltz