Richard S. Halsey

To the family of Dr. Halsey,

My deepest condolences for your loss. You do not know me, nor do I know you, but I know that Dr. Halsey is a kind and gentle soul. This is going to sound strange, but I have a question that I hope someone might be able to find the time to answer: Is there a sweater that Dr. Halsey was going to give to someone, or wished to give to someone, a young man?

Again, my deepest sympathies for your loss.

The Dean was a tireless public servant for his entire professional life. He served for the greater good of the common cause and touched everyone with his passion and equanimity. He was a man of grace and goodness and the world feels like a different place without him.

His beloved Step-Daughter,

Heather McCombs

I was a student at SUNYA from 1983 to 1984. I will always remember Dean Halsey's great wit and charm. May he rest in peace.

Gill,
I just learned of your loss today. I was sad to hear the news. Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this time. May the precious memories you two shared be a perpetual source of comfort.

I will forever remember "The Dean".

I had the pleasure of working with Dr. Halsey at SUNY Albany, where we together established a "Media Lab" where students could learn to properly handle audio-visual materials. He was a kind man who always dressed and acted in a distinguished manner.

I remember his distress when I inadvertently ordered a "run of the mill" record player for the Lab, rather than a quality stereo receiver that could properly play back the recordings he so loved.

He will be missed.

I was able to obtain my Ph.D. in Information Science because of the program Dean Halsey created. I am grateful and thankful for his work and wish to share my sincere condolences with his family.

Guy Cortesi (Albany, NY)

Dear Gillian, Billie and I are so honored to be your next door neighbors since you moved to Nedra Way. I am in awe of Richard's awesome battle with Prostate Cancer which you know is the number one threat to my health for the last 12 years. The grace and dignity the he showed me every time we talked about this man problem was unbelievable. We will miss him and our main regret is we did not spend more time sharing a red wine, discussing his writing projects or listening to him play the Piano. I...

Richard Halsey was a true polyvalent: educator, administrator, musician, composer, advocate, organizer--the list goes on and on. And he did it all with grace and good humor. It was a pleasure to know and to work with him.