The Southern Connecticut State University community was deeply saddened to learn of the Nov. 15 passing of Larry Bingaman, president and CEO of the Regional Water Authority (RWA). A staunch supporter of higher education and Southern’s School of Business, Bingaman transformed the utility industry and co-founded Southern’s Public Utility Management degree program, creating pathways for students to launch impactful careers.
“I was very sad to hear of Larry’s passing,” said Jess Boronoico, dean of the School of Business. “He was a staunch advocate of sustainable practices and conscious business and has always been willing to invest his time and expertise to help shape and support the School of Business, whether it be through his hard work in developing curriculum, such as our Public Utility Management Program, or efforts to strengthen our portfolio of Experiential Education initiatives.”
“As a donor to the school his philanthropy has been instrumental in providing our students with opportunities that they would otherwise not have,” Boronico said. “ I will personally miss Larry, his good humor and kind heart, and I will always remember and think of him as a role model for others to follow as they aspire to greatness.”
Larry Bingaman spent the greater part of his career as a public servant in the water industry, having a 20-year-career with Aquarion Water Company (AWC) before taking the helm of the RWA in 2009. His 15-year tenure at the RWA began in the midst of the Great Recession of 2008, and his leadership helped guide the company through that difficult time and strengthened it to withstand future economic downturns including the COVID pandemic recession.
A spirit of service has been a hallmark characteristic of Bingaman’s leadership, and nowhere was that more prevalent than in his commitment to education as a life-long learner. He built strong relationships between the RWA, Southern, Gateway Community College and other institutions. Students have benefited from scholarships and opportunities with the RWA, and Bingaman was a frequent guest speaker in the classroom, talking about the value of ethical conduct and conscious business practices.
At Southern, Bingaman’s generosity and commitment to the university through initiatives like the Larry L. and Martha J. Bingaman Scholarship Fund and the Experiential Education Fund empowered countless students and left a lasting legacy on campus. He also pioneered the creation of the landmark Public Utility Management Degree Program at Southern and Gateway.
Seeing a need in business and an opportunity for students, Bingaman brought together stakeholders from the utility sector and higher education to develop this first-of-its-kind degree program to prepare students to find careers in the utility industry and succeed.
“Larry championed a vision of helping both our individual students and our communities to see the vast possibilities available within our workforce,” said Michael Kingan, vice president for Institutional Advancement and executive director of the SCSU Foundation.
“He was passionate about making a difference, and he did so with grace, collegiality, and intentional implementation,” Kingan said. “He secured the resources needed to make that vision a reality, through his own philanthropy, his advocacy for business support, and his effective leadership.”
In his time with Southern, Bingaman was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters in 2021 and served on the Business Executive Council at the School of Business, where the Larry L. Bingaman Experiential Education Conference Room was named in his honor.
Learn more about his remarkable contributions: A Well of Generosity.
