A Good Man

They say a good man is hard to find. So when Sondra found Larry Salley some 42 years ago, she married him because Larry Sally was truly a good man.  I am told that a good man is a good son, a good father, a good brother and a good friend. Larry Salley was all of these, plus he was a devoted civic leader, giving his all to the many causes he cherished. His untimely passing was sad news for all of us at ArtsWestchester.  I first met Larry some 15 years ago, when he served as Commissioner of Transportation for the County. Trained as an urban planner (with a Master’s degree from Hunter College), he knew the value of making art accessible to the public – in parks, on streets, in housing and in transportation hubs. He became the County’s representative on ArtsWestchester’s Board, making his voice heard on executive, grants and policy committees. He had a long and illustrious career in the Westchester County government starting in 1973. Following his retirement, he was elected to the Board, becoming its Vice President shortly thereafter. Retirement didn’t seem to stop Larry. His roster of assignments continued as Chairman of the White Plains Housing Authority, Chairman of the White Plains Housing Company, Inc., Secretary of the African American Men of Westchester and of course, Vice President of ArtsWestchester. Larry had an extraordinary passion for travel and photography, and during his many trips abroad, he was able to capture moments of significance in various corners of the world. An exhibition of his photography is planned. He is survived by his wife Sondra and his daughter Nyle. It’s painful for everyone at ArtsWestchester to say goodbye to Larry. He was a good man and a great advocate for the arts. A memorial service is planned for Saturday, July 16, starting at 11am at the Little Theater of the Westchester County Center.