.png)
Dear Passaic College community!
I write with a heavy yet humbled heart as I offer this tribute to our beloved President, Dr. Steven Rose. Since joining Passaic County Community College in 2001, I have witnessed firsthand the profound impact of his leadership. Many colleagues often spoke of the challenges that existed before my arrival and how everything changed when Dr. Rose assumed his role. His presence transformed the college into the vibrant, collaborative, and student-centered institution we know today. I can still picture his car already parked on campus when I arrived at 7:00 a.m.—a quiet yet powerful reminder of his unwavering dedication. Dr. Rose was a down-to-earth leader who treated everyone with dignity and respect. He was the rock and foundation that cultivated a shared collegiate spirit and fostered a sense of positive energy throughout the institution. I see him vividly in my mind—at Academic Council, providing a clear and hopeful state of the college; at Convocation, recognizing each member who distinguished themselves; and at Graduation, proudly announcing the diverse backgrounds of our graduates from numerous counties and countries. I remember him honoring newly tenured faculty, attending holiday gatherings, supporting fundraising events, walking for the March of Dimes, cheering participants at 5K events, and showing up wherever the college community needed him most. Even the few times I had the privilege of meeting with him in his office for college-related matters remain cherished moments—filled with guidance, wisdom, and genuine care. His leadership was steady, humble, and deeply human. It is still difficult to accept that he is no longer with us. He leaves behind shoes far too large to fill. For many of us, the college and Dr. Rose were inseparable, and imagining this institution without him is truly painful. He was the vital link that held so many parts of the Passaic County community together. When I received his email earlier this year regarding his medical condition, it was a deeply difficult moment. I am grateful that I had the opportunity to express, in my reply, how much he meant to the college and to me personally. Now that he has gone home to be with the Lord, we are left to pray—for his family, for our college community, and for the strength to continue the work he loved so dearly. May God comfort us and grant us the grace to carry forward his legacy with the same dedication, humility, and compassion he exemplified throughout my 25 years here. Adieu, my esteemed President—until we meet again.
With heartfelt sympathy, Professor Adeleye Clement Bamkole Engineering and Computer Sciences Department