Barry Benepe comments on his son Adrian as he leaves office
An enthusiastic crowd gathered at the Waldorf Astoria for cocktails and a dinner banquet on Tuesday evening, November 13. Alumni, staff and board members of Horace Mann School were there to honor Adrian Benepe, Class of 1974, by presenting him with the Award for Distinguished Achievement 2012. Adrian was formally welcomed by Justin Lerer ’95, President of the Horace Mann Alumni Council and warmly greeted by Dr. Thomas Kelly, Head of School, who summarized his many achievements, including not only his parks experience, beginning in 1979 as a Urban Park Ranger, but also his stints with the New York Botanical Garden, where he was Director of the Annual Fund and Major Gifts, and as Vice President for Issues & Public Affairs for the Municipal Art Society.
Adrian drew appreciative laughter when he recalled his 9th Grade “progress report” at Horace Mann where his effort and daily preparation were rated as “poor,” his attitude as “disruptive,” his study habits as “procrastinating,” but his retention (of knowledge) as “good.” His French teacher reported that “Adrian has an excellent ear for French, but he is too often disruptive in class. Were he more attentive, he could be in the A-range, but he prefers to be a clown, and you can hardly pass him in the hall-ways, in the library, without seeing him making disturbances of some sort. He has a bad influence on his fellow-students. May I finally mention his personal appearance, which is a disgrace.”
During his nearly 30 years with the Parks Department, he realized the growing importance of parks not only to meet recreation and aesthetic needs but to meet a wide range of environmental needs such as surface run-off, storm water retention, wild life habitats and flood control. He cited the reconstruction of Marine Park as “a natural sponge” which showed its ability to absorb the impacts of both Hurricanes Irene and Sandy, thus offering protection to the built up areas behind it.
Adrian concluded that he was most taken with the famous statement made by the school’s namesake, Horace Mann, made in a graduation address to Antioch College in 1859, “Be ashamed to die until you have won some victory for humanity.” Adrian added, “I hope that we all, every day, perhaps in ways unseen by others, win some victories for humanity.” Mr. Lerer thanked him for his service to New York City, “Adrian Benepe has given his fellow New Yorkers the opportunity to cultivate their own humanity in these precious places.”
Adrian has taken on a newly created post with the Trust for Public Land as Senior Vice President and Director of City Park Development around the United States. In his new role he hopes to help cities across the country create new parks and help them to become more resilient to climate change and rising sea levels. Naturally, I am very proud of him and his lifelong dedication to our city and the well being of its people.
