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UB to be closed tomorrow in observance of Reagan's funeral

Published: June 10, 2004

By SUE WUETCHER
Reporter Editor

UB and other state offices and agencies will be closed tomorrow in observance of the state funeral of former President Ronald Reagan, who died on Saturday.

In addition to closing state offices and agencies, Gov. George Pataki designated tomorrow as a "Day of Prayer and Remembrance for President Reagan in New York State" and ordered flags at the state Capitol and across the state to be lowered to half-staff in honor of the 40th president until July 5—30 days from the day of his passing.

Pataki's closure of state offices affects all "non-essential" state employees, who will receive the day off with pay and without charge to accruals, according to Kevin Seitz, vice president for university services. All employees who are deemed "essential" by their supervisors will continue to report for work as usual, but will receive one day of compensatory time off. Any employee, either essential or non-essential, who already had arranged to charge leave credits tomorrow will not be required to charge any credits for that absence.

The closure applies to all state, UB Foundation, Research Foundation and FSA employees, Seitz notes.

Inquires regarding the closure may be directed to Employee Relations at 645-5000, ext. 1283.

Since the death of President John F. Kennedy in 1963, state offices have been closed five times in observance of the death of a former president or elected federal official, according to a press release from Pataki's office. Those closures:

  • President John F. Kennedy: Gov. Nelson Rockefeller proclaimed Nov. 25, 1963, a day of general prayer and religious observance following President Lyndon Johnson's designation of that day as a day of national mourning throughout the nation. Rockefeller issued a proclamation declaring a 30-day period of mourning and also directed that state offices be closed on the day of Kennedy's funeral.

  • Sen. Robert F. Kennedy: Rockefeller directed that all state offices be closed on June 7, 1968, out of respect for the late senator.

  • President Dwight D. Eisenhower: Rockefeller directed that all state offices be closed mid-day on March 31, 1969.

  • President Harry S. Truman: Rockefeller directed that all state offices be closed at mid-day on Dec. 28, 1972.

  • President Lyndon B. Johnson: Rockefeller directed that all state offices be closed at mid-day on Jan. 25, 1973.