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Dr. Charles Adair’s gift honors the memory of his wife and Farmingdale alumna Violet Loy Adair ’59.

Farmingdale, New York -- Farmingdale State College (FSC) announced today that a generous gift from a longtime FSC professor and dean will support first generation college students at the College. Charles Adair, Dean for the School of Arts and Sciences, has donated $100,000 to establish the Violet Loy Adair Endowed Scholarship Fund in his late wife’s memory.

Dr. Adair, who has been a part of the FSC community for more than 46 years, said that he wanted to leave a lasting legacy for students whom, like his wife Violet, are forging new paths for themselves and their families as first-generation college students.

“My hope is that this can be transformative for students for whom the opportunity to earn a college degree would have been unavailable or out of reach,” said Dr. Adair. “Violet was the daughter of Chinese immigrants and the first in her family to attend college. I would like to think she’d be very pleased to know that others will be helped on their own journeys with this gift in her honor.”

Violet Adair was born in Brooklyn, NY, in 1939 and earned her associate degree in biotechnology-horticulture from Farmingdale (then known as the Long Island Agricultural and Technical Institute), her bachelor's degree in biology from Cornell University, and her master's degree in horticulture (orchid cytogenetics) from the University of Hawaii.

She and Charles met in Ithaca where Charles was a graduate student at Cornell and Violet was a lab technician. Drawn together by a mutual love of plant biology, the pair traveled the globe and taught at universities in Guam and Singapore before settling on Long Island. Violet was a devoted mother of two and grandmother of four. She was among the early casualties of the COVID-19 pandemic in New York; passing in late May 2020.

“Farmingdale set Violet on her life’s path, and the college meant a great deal to her. It has been my professional home for five decades now, and our lives were deeply linked to the college. I have no plans to retire, so I look forward to the immediate impact this will have on students. I hope to meet some of those it helps and share with them Violet’s story,” said Dr. Adair.

“Dean Adair’s generosity in his beloved wife’s memory is truly moving,” said FSC President Dr. John S. Nader. “This is a gift that will keep Violet’s spirit alive on campus for a very long time. We are deeply grateful Dean Adair has chosen to give back to the community and the College in this way. He is a role model for FSC faculty, staff and philanthropists who care about ensuring our College’s status as an engine of opportunity for young people.”

Read more about Charles and Violet Adair at alumni.farmingdale.edu/charles-adair.

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Dedicated to student success, Farmingdale State College is a recognized leader in applied learning. With nearly 10,000 students, Farmingdale delivers exceptional student outcomes and opportunities through teaching, scholarship and applied research for Long Island, New York, and beyond. As one of the largest institutions in the State University of New York system, FSC’s commitment to student-centered learning and inclusiveness is unparalleled, preparing graduates to be exemplary citizens equipped to excel in a competitive, diverse, and technically dynamic society. Farmingdale was the first institution of public higher education on Long Island and has long been a cornerstone of the region’s economy with 96% of graduates working in New York State and 75% working on Long Island. Farmingdale prepares emerging leaders in the growing technology, engineering, business, and health care fields. 

The College is home to the Broad Hollow Bioscience Park, which supports the development of biotech start-up companies. and partners with surrounding businesses and research institutions along the growing Route 110 Business Corridor. FSC proudly hosts one of New York State’s leading Small Business Development Centers which provides professional business advisement, education, network resources, and advocates for small business and entrepreneurs.

Learn more about Farmingdale at www.farmingdale.edu.