Dr. Jane (Weaver) Altes

Troy - Dr. Jane Altes, a noted educator, combined her passion for adult education with a deep sense of community service. Dr. Altes passed away in Troy, New York on February 3, 2023, after a lengthy battle with cancer.

Jane graduated magna cum laude from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio with a baccalaureate degree in Sociology. She was a Louis Wirth fellow, graduating with a master’s degree in Sociology from University of Chicago, and received a doctoral degree in Public Policy from St. Louis University.

Dr. Altes started her notable professional career in education at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, where she spent twenty-three years in various roles as a tenured faculty member, research center director, and Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs.

Born on December 22, 1933 in Toledo, Ohio, Jane grew up in Maumee, only child of the late Lawrence and Anvilla (Foote) Weaver. She is survived by her husband and partner of fifty-seven years, former Capital Region Chamber President, Wallace Altes; her children, Read Schusky, a naturopathic physician in Boston, and Scott Altes, an attorney in Phoenix; her perfect grandchild, Benjamin Owen Altes; and her sister-in-law, Nancy (Raymond) Reed of Fairfax.

Jane married Wallace “Wally” Altes in 1966 with the couple moving to the Capital Region in 1984 when she accepted a role as Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Programs at the State University of New York (SUNY) Systems Administration. In 1987, Dr. Altes accepted a position as Vice President for Academic Affairs at SUNY Empire State College. She left SUNY Empire State College in 1996 to pursue consultancy, but in 1998, she was asked to return to assume the role of Interim President. Dr. Altes led the college through a critical transition and executive search following the founding president’s departure.

After her retirement from SUNY Empire State College in 2000, Dr. Altes expanded her work as a private consultant in higher education, specializing in academic quality and development, accreditation, and the evaluation and recruitment of university presidents. Her expertise in accreditation was highly sought after and included numerous consultancies. Dr. Altes was appointed by Vice President Al Gore to serve in the Leadership Group to develop policies for enhancing work skills for the 21 st Century, was a Fellow of the Middle States Association and an editor for Characteristics of Excellence, an institutional candidate guide for meeting accreditation standards for membership to the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. She also worked for the United States Department of State as an advisor to the Ministry of Education in Pristina, Kosovo, as well as the Lorenzo de Medici Institute in Florence, Italy, working on specialized projects in higher education accreditation.

Jane and Wally moved to Troy in 2007 where they were early enthusiasts of downtown revitalization and “pioneer” tenants of The Conservatory, a flagship adaptive reuse project that transformed the 1903 Stanley department store into upscale apartments.

Jane and Wally shared a deep love for community investment, music, art, and education, both holding a special love for Southwest and Inuit art. Throughout their lives together, they amassed an extensive collection of work from influential artists from all backgrounds.

Jane enjoyed world travel with friends and particularly time spent in London with close friend Pamela Sawchuk Brown. She also enjoyed visits with Alan Goldberg, a friend with whom she remained close over the years. Jane was an avid reader of mystery novels, and kept an extensive 33-page, double column, itemized list of the books she read to avoid any duplicates. As evidence of her belief in the importance of community assets, the books she read were almost exclusively borrowed from the Albany and Troy Public Libraries.

While Jane appeared to most as a private and unassuming person, she was a fearless adventurer. As a young sociologist, she spent time assisting in research on the Lower Brule Sioux Reservation in South Dakota and, ever the community servant, was given the special name of “Eagles Nest” for volunteering to climb up to paint the church steeple at the reservation church. Her adventurous spirit remained throughout her life; true to the name “Eagles Nest,” Jane caught a bird’s eye view of Turks and Caicos when she went paragliding there at seventy-four years old.

Jane was known for her devotion to the organizations she supported. Beyond traditional philanthropic support, she once personally advanced salaries to a struggling organization to help make operational ends meet, and continued to help them raise critical funding to become financially stable.

Dr. Altes has been recognized as an expert in her field and for her contributions to public and professional service. Jane was a graduate of the Institute for Educational Management at Harvard, a fellow of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, and a leader in the Nation of Lifelong Learners. Her public service contributions included board of directors and trustee roles at: Northeast Health/St. Peter’s Health Partners, Arts Center of the Capital Region, WMHT, Clearview Council, Capital Repertory Theatre, Capital Culture, The Sage Colleges (Trustee Emerita, 2011), Retinal Research Foundation, Albany Public Library, Empire State College Foundation, Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood, and AIDS Council of Northeastern New York.

In 2014, Dr. Altes received an Honorary Degree of Humane Letters from Southern Vermont College for her work encouraging civic engagement through government service and community service work. She received various community awards including honors from The Albany-Colonie Regional Chamber of Commerce, Women of Excellence, 2000; Senior Services (Lifepath) Third Age Award in Education, 2005; with husband Wallace Altes: Capital Repertory Theatre Shining Star Award, 2008; Arthritis Accolade for Community Service, 2001; and Troy Savings Bank Music Hall award for contributions to the cultural life of the Capital Region, 2011.

In 2001, through contributions to the SUNY Empire Foundation, Dr. Altes founded the Jane Altes Prize for Exemplary Community Service. This prestigious award continues to annually recognize faculty or staff members for their outstanding service to the community.

The Altes family extends their deepest gratitude to the Community Hospice for their kind support and compassionate care. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial gifts be given in Jane’s name to the Empire State College Jane Altes Prize, Sage College, or to any of the service organizations mentioned above. Jane's memory was honored with a private ceremony; a public memorial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 15th at Bush Memorial Hall, Sage College, 50 First Street, Troy, New York 12180. 

Memorial Service for Dr. Jane Altes on February 7, 2023 at Bryce Funeral Home, Inc.

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