Roger Tilles, longtime Regents representative, recovering from heart attack
Regent Roger Tilles answers questions at Long Island Council for the Social Studies conference at the Marriot Hotel in Melville on Friday, Oct. 27, 2023. Credit: Morgan Campbell
Roger Tilles, of Manhasset, now in his 20th year on the state’s Board of Regents, has told Newsday he is determined to seek an additional five-year term despite a recent heart attack that led to a temporary slowdown in his schedule.
Tilles’ medical condition became widely known Friday, when dozens of startled social studies educators attending a convention in Melville were told that the 78-year-old Regent representing Long Island had been forced to cancel a scheduled appearance. Tilles had been a featured speaker at past conventions.
In a phone interview Monday, Tilles sounded like his usual self, good-humored and talkative on subjects ranging from his recent hospital visit to his record as a Regent and his hopes for progress on issues such as high school graduation requirements. The Regents are a 17-member, nonpaid board that sets much of the state’s academic policy.
“I’m fully intending to go for another five years,” said Tilles, who several months ago informed a legislative leader of his intent. “I’m doing fine. I really am doing fine. There’s no reason why I can’t continue if they want me.”
He went on to describe his episode of Oct. 18: chest pains followed by being rushed to a nearby hospital where doctors inserted a stent to deal with blockage of an artery. Another stent is to be inserted later, Tilles added, and he has been advised to take things easy for three or four weeks.
“I’m a lucky person, once again,” he said of his prospective recovery.
Under law, Regents are elected by majority vote of the State Legislature, typically after being endorsed by an influential lawmaker in their region. In practice, final selection is by Assembly Democrats, who hold the biggest bloc of votes. Selections are on a staggered basis for different regions of the state, with voting usually held in March.
One senior legislator from Long Island, Assemb. Charles Lavine (D-Glen Cove), confirmed he has been in touch with Tilles regarding the Regent’s desire to continue representing the Nassau-Suffolk region on the state board.
“His prospects will be excellent,” Lavine said. “I know of no one who has fought harder for public education — to make public education more compassionate and more comforting for our students.”
Elected to four terms already, Tilles is the state’s senior Regent in terms of years served. On the Island, he is perhaps best known as a philanthropist and civic leader: a former chair and founder of the Association for a Better Long Island, past acting chair of the Long Island Regional Planning Board, and former executive vice chairman of the Tilles Center for the Performing Arts, which bears his family’s name.
As a Regent, Tilles estimates he has visited at least 100 of the Island’s 124 school districts at one time or another, stopping off at elementary schools whenever he can to read poetry to younger children.
“He spends an incredible amount of time interacting with students and staff and often talks about his love to read to our students,” said Hank Grishman, superintendent of Jericho schools, in an email message.
“Personally, I could not give a stronger endorsement for Roger to remain as a key and outspoken member of our New York State Board of Regents,” added Grishman, who is also a frequent adviser to Tilles and a former president of the New York State Council of School Superintendents.
John Hildebrand is Newsday's senior education writer and has covered school news and policy issues affecting Long Island for more than 40 years.
