Retiring LRCC president touted as 'most interesting man in the room'

LACONIA — For five years the Lakes Region has benefited from the wit and wisdom of retiring Lakes Region Community College President Mark Edelstein.

Last night, in honor of his tenure, the community, the faculty and staff, some former students and his family joined at the Laconia County Club to fete the man who they credit with leading the college to the elevated status it enjoys today.

"Mark was the right person at the right time," said Paul Holloway, the chair of the LRCC board of trustees who said Edelstein brought the requisite amount of professionalism, firmness and humor to the college when it needed it the most.

"LRCC will continue to be a shining star," Holloway said after which he conferred the status of president emeritus to Edelstein.

President Emeritus Edelstein came to the Lakes Region as a Nashua native whose 40-year career in education took him from the campus of Colby College in Maine to the the halls of the University of New Hampshire and to the State University of New York Stonybrook for his Doctor of English degree.

Crossing the county, Edelstein spent nearly 30 years as an educator and administrator in California, rising to the vice presidency of academic affairs at the College of the Redwoods and president of Diablo Valley College — both within the California Community College system.

Returning to New Hampshire in 2006, he oversaw the expansion of the Lakes Region Community College as the eighth full-time president of the 42-year-old former technical college.

Speaking to Edelstein's efforts within the Lakes Region community and his service on many of its boards and commissions, Lakes Region United Way Director Jack Tirrell said there were only three things to give someone like Edelstein — a short speech, a reading from Ulysses by Sir Alfred Lord Tennyson and a six-pack of Dos Equis beer.

"Because he truly is the most interesting man in the room," Tirrell said, mimicking the popular television commercial.

"I am delighted to have Mark as a friend," said Tony Furuolo of the Belknap County Economic Development Council who lauded Edelstein a leader in educating students for the future economic benefit of the area.

He also chided Edelstein as one of the great wine connoisseurs he has ever met, teasing him about his love of the Internet site www.WTSO.com or Wine Til Sold Out.

Edelstein serves on the board of the BCEDC, is chair of the board of the Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce, the LRGHealthcare Board of Directors, the board of Temple B'nai Israel and the Canterbury Historical District and said he would continue to serve in those areas.

Fellow LRCC educators James Vander Hooven, the vice president of student affairs and Thomas Goulette, the vice president of academic affairs (who also served as emcee) both spoke to the remarkable changes his down to earth common sense brought to the college.

"He helped me through my dissertation. He knows when to push, encourage and walk away," said Vander Hooven, calling Edelstein on his his life's greatest mentors. "He put the 'community' in Lake Region Community College."

Edelstein told the nearly 75 people who came to honor him that he knows he has a reputation for being humorous and biting, but "self criticism is so foreign to me."

With thanks to his wife and sisters he reminded everyone that "unconditional love can redeem the most hapless of us" and that his real success was attributed to the many educators, administrators, students, politician and community leaders who welcomed him with open arms and supported the college.

"It is a privilege to lead an institution like LRCC and not just to education but to transform lives," he said in closing.

Edelstein retires officially on June 30. In his honor and in his name, the Laconia Savings Bank has created a $1,500 scholarship and Goulette said the college created a $500 scholarship.

Come, my friends,

'Tis not too late to seek a newer world.

Push off, and sitting well in order smite

The sounding furrows; for my purpose holds

To sail beyond the sunset, and the baths

Of all the western stars, until I die.

It may be that the gulfs will wash us down;

It may be we shall touch the Happy Isles,

And see the great Achilles, whom we knew.

— From "Ulysses" by Alfred Lord Tennyson