Dear BCC Community,

It is with deep sadness that I share the passing of Mr. Dick Beatie, a cherished friend of Bronx Community College and a passionate champion of educational equity. His life’s work, both through public service and personal philanthropy, has left a lasting mark on our college and countless lives across New York City.

More than a decade ago, when I asked for Dick’s help, he made a visionary gift of $10,000 to establish the Kalief Browder Scholarship here at BCC. This fund was created in honor of Kalief, a former BCC student whose story continues to call attention to the urgent need for criminal justice reform. Dick’s generosity was not just financial – it was personal. He believed in the transformative power of education, especially for justice-impacted students who are striving to rebuild their lives.

Dick’s single gift paved the way for the Kalief Browder Scholarship to become what it is today; Since then, the Scholarship Fund has raised nearly $225,000 and supported 10 full-time students on their educational journeys. Dick’s quiet but steadfast hope was that this scholarship would live on, and I am proud to say that thanks to his inspiration, it has.

Beyond BCC, Dick’s leadership as the Founder and Chairman of New Visions for Public Schools helped reimagine what education could look like in New York City. As NBC-TV’s Tom Brokaw once stated, Dick’s mission was to make New Visions a place “where students are known, teachers are passionate about teaching and students are engaged in a rigorous academic curriculum.”
Because of Dick’s dedication, hundreds of thousands of students have had access to better schools and brighter futures. His legacy lives on in the classrooms he helped shape, the lives he uplifted, and the hope he instilled in those often left behind.

Please join me in honoring Mr. Dick Beatie – a dear friend and a remarkable man whose compassion, vision, and unwavering belief in second chances will continue to light the way for generations to come.

Warmly,

Eddy Bayardelle, Ph.D.
Vice President | External Relations
President | BCC Foundation
Bronx Community College