Ken Struve founded City Access New York in 2006 with an entirely innovative approach and a lot of creativity. And it worked! Today, it is a truly remarkable organization with real pathways for people of all abilities.
Even after moving out of state, Ken was always involved and worked really hard as a Chair of the Board of Directors for quite a few years.
I met Ken at one of the landmarks of the Day Habilitation program of that time, Aviator, during a Family orientation day for new participants about 10 years ago. Ever since we worked very closely together, and he became an advisor, a friend, and a mentor. He was a lot of fun, had a great sense of humor and made our biweekly meetings an anticipated event. We will remember you, Ken. You did great by us, thank you.
Sophia Rossovsky, Executive Director
In Loving Memory of my dear friend Ken You created a path for success and opportunities for so many people. You will be greatly missed but never forgotten. Your good friend, Mitch.
Mitch Goldstein, Co-Founder & Respite Director
Over the past 12 years at City Access, I had the honor to share a workplace with Ken. From the moment I joined, he was nothing short of welcoming, kind, and encouraging. As our Executive Director, he was always there to lend a supportive ear. He made you feel like you were trusted, and he backed you on any decision or new idea that you brought to the table. As the years went on and he adjusted to his new role as Board Chair, he brought that same enthusiasm for his team, and was always someone we could count on. I hope he realizes how much he was loved in our organization, from the participants, to the staff, to the administration. Even if he wasn’t always able to be physically present with us, his impact and influence was felt in his ability to help make the lives of those we serve better. And that is the Ken we knew. Every decision, every vote of support, every hard conversation was always done with our participants in mind. I’m proud of the time I spent working with him, and I will always miss his words of encouragement and the genuine excitement he portrayed when we got to speak. He will be dearly missed, but always remembered by our CANY family.
Ryan Dillon, Director of Program Services
He always had a smile and was so upbeat. Like nothing ever bothered him. It was a pleasure to work for him.
Deb DiForte
I had the pleasure of meeting Ken, prior to City Access. He was a pleasant man, that was eager to start up a small agency and service people with disabilities. He heard I had some experience with running Respite Programs, and asked if I would be interested in working for City Access , I gladly accepted.
That small agency has created a safe environment for people with disabilities, and it remains a fun, family oriented, wonderful place for all. City Access has certainly grown since then, and we thank you for sharing your vision, because of you we have City Access, and we thank you, RIP.
Yvette Blunt, Manager of Community Habilitation
Even though I never had the pleasure of working with Ken in person, his impact was always felt on our organization. Ken will be dearly missed.
Fran Farin, Director of HR and Administration
Ken Struve dedicated his life to enriching and providing meaningful programs for those with disabilities. His foresight helped create lasting programs that provide educational, recreational and community supports. I met Ken nearly 20 years ago and together helped his vision to become a reality in the borough of Staten Island. Ken Struve will always be a part of City Access NY. May his memory live on through the programs he created.
Helene Toron, Director of Staten Island Respite and Community Habilitation
In Memory of Ken
You were a wonderful person who left a legacy of access to cultural and community activities for so many people. We will miss you.
Randy Bolton, Compliance Officer
The world lost one of its most mission-oriented, caring souls, Ken Struve. You will be hard pressed to find similar intellect, drive, passion and compassion for a mission, like the resolve of Ken. I was honored to be mentored by him for eight years while serving alongside Ken as his Vice Chair for City Access New York. I am very appreciative of every second I was able to learn from Ken about what an honor it was to be a part of CANY’s board but more importantly the honor it was to serve CANY’s community in which he loved so dearly. Ken was loved by many, near and far, and we will miss him dearly. The CANY community has sadly lost its architect and founder, but Ken’s legacy will continue and never be forgotten. May he Rest in Peace.
Christopher Sims, Board of Directors
I first met Ken Struve when I was a teacher for the City of NY working with Blind and Visually Impaired students. He came into our classroom with his music and wonderful nature enthralling the students. Over time his advocacy would help teach them about sailing and help them learn, in a hands on way, about the history of New York City. As the students got older Ken’s work with the Museum Consortium enabled students to get internships in different museums around NYC, helping them gain valuable work skills. This is a small part of the legacy Ken leaves behind. Through City Access Ken will live on helping young adults reach their potential. Ken’s energy and dedication will be missed but he gave us all a roadmap to continue his efforts. We can only hope to live up to his standards.
Susan LoFranco, Board of Directors
I was blessed with the opportunity to work with Ken Struve over a number of years, developing school programs through year-long residencies for K-12 students in Brooklyn. Ken’s creativity, enthusiasm, and innovation allowed us to serve these young people in diverse ways by utilizing cultural resources such as the South Street Seaport Museum and NYC itself. This work, along with partnerships he led to increase accessibility capacity across the cultural sector, has continued to shape the way I engage audiences and view our responsibilities to the communities in which we serve.
Robert Forloney, Board of Directors
Ken was one of the most important mentors for me in the early part of my career. We first met when I joined the steering committee of the volunteer-led Museum Access Consortium. Ken was co-chairing MAC at the time and made me feel truly welcome and valued. Shortly after meeting him, I was inspired by the work he was doing at City Access New York and left my museum job to help realize his vision of a more inclusive city for people with disabilities. For four years, I designed and oversaw programs for City Access New York that engaged students who were blind or had low vision with the city around them through multisensory exploration and community partnerships. Working with Ken, students, teachers, and cultural partners was fun! It was like playing in a sandbox. And this was because Ken brought a sense of wonder to the work and created space for participants, staff, and partners to experiment, learn, and grow together. Through his example, he taught me that it was possible to lead with humility and warmth, creativity and possibility. Whenever I think of Ken, I will always remember how great it felt to share an idea with him. He’d always crack a smile, and with a sparkle in his eye, he’d say, ‘I like it. Tell me more about that.’ I miss you, Ken, and I promise to do my best to relate to people with kindness the way you did and do the kind of work that would have brought you joy.”
Cynthia VandenBosch, Board of Directors
