New Jersey Symphony President Quits After Questions on His Past
New Jersey Symphony President Quits After Questions on His Past
By DANIEL J. WAKIN
Published: January 11, 2013
Richard Dare made a splash last year as an outspoken entrepreneur
turned arts administrator and started work on Jan. 2 as the president
and chief executive of the New Jersey Symphony, with the promise that
his business acumen would bring it new luster. On Friday, nine days
later, he resigned, citing a 1996 case in which he was charged with an
“attempted lewd act upon” a 15-year-old girl, whom he later married.
In a statement, Mr. Dare, 48, said he believed that “media attention
to my family’s personal life will harm the organization and musicians
I cherish, as well as needlessly embarrass my wife.”
The development came as a New York Times investigation into Mr. Dare’s
background raised questions about aspects of his résumé and business
accomplishments. Former associates have suggested that he exaggerated
the extent of his business dealings, and evidence to support some of
his claims — like his having testified frequently before Congress —
could not immediately be found.
(snip)
On the Pacific Rim Partners site, which has since been taken down, Mr.
Dare was called a director of the New Image Orthodontic Group. Another
business biography, from the Web site of the Alliance of Chief
Executives, a California networking group, said he took part in the
grouping together of 40 practices under centralized management at New
Image. Dr. Ronald Cooper, the company’s founder, said Mr. Dare was a
sort of “life coach” to an orthodontist hired to promote the group.
“He really had nothing to do with the company,” he said. Mr. Arshack
confirmed that Mr. Dare worked for the hired orthodontist and was not
employed by New Image, but helped “figure out strategies to add new
doctors to the firm.”
Mr. Dare attended Loma Linda University, a Seventh Day Adventist-
affiliated college, studying liberal arts. He said he received a
master’s degree in cognitive field theories. Several of his business
biographies say he was an adjunct professor in the subject, without
naming the institution. His biography in the symphony news release
says, “He has been frequently called upon as an expert witness to
testify before Congress on issues of tax policy and its impact on
nonprofit organizations,” although no transcripts could be found. The
League of American Orchestras, which lobbies for symphony orchestras,
said Mr. Dare had conversations before Senate hearings but gave no
formal testimony on its behalf.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/12/arts/music/new-jersey-symphony-president-richard-dare-quits.html?hp
