Today marks the last column for Joel Lerner, who has penned “Making Sense Out of Dollars” for some twenty years.

Joel’s long history with Sullivan County dates more than half a century, when he first moved to Monticello to take a job as a professor at the ‘new’ Sullivan County Community College. 

He has long since retired, having also served on the Board of Trustees of the College for a decade before truly putting his feet up to enjoy life.

At 86, Joel, by his own admission, has more days behind him than in front of him, but his decision to stop writing his column is not one of disinterest or lethargy, but of accomplishment.

He wants to move on to another challenge, another chapter of his life, so to speak. And isn’t it fitting, that on the last edition of 2022, Joel Lerner’s final column will be printed, ending his tenure on his terms.

Joel and I have known each other longer than we both want to admit, and spent a fair amount of time together in the mid-to-late 90s when we served together on the SUNY Sullivan Board of Trustees.

If you haven’t already, Joel’s final submission appears on page 5A of this edition and is a trip down memory lane and a little nudge to those much younger than him to seize the day and make sure you don’t leave much undone – because you, too, will also grow old one day and wonder where the years went.

As I read Joel’s final column for the first time on Tuesday, I reflected on my own life.

And as we turn the calendar on another year, my rear view mirror will be looking at 40 years of full-time employment at the Democrat. It will also bring my 40th anniversary of graduation from St. Bonaventure University and my 37th wedding anniversary. 

Certainly those numbers cannot be describing my life  – but they are.

And just as the famous song Auld Lang Syne is sung on New Year’s Eve, at the stroke of midnight, to bid farewell to the old year, is it also appropriate to bid farewell to an old, yet ever dear friend, Joel Lerner.

“Should auld acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind?

“Should auld acquaintance be forgot and auld lang syne?

“For auld lang syne, myjo, For auld lang syne.

“We’ll take a cup o’ kindness yet for auld lang syne.”

To my dear friend Joel,

Thank you for all you have done, Godspeed and continue to keep the faith, you are a remarkable person.

Auld Lang Syne,

Fred Stabbert III

Publisher

Sullivan County Democrat