Larry L. Bingaman, president and CEO of the New Haven-based Regional Water Authority, has died following a brief illness, the company announced Tuesday.
Bingaman died on Nov. 15 surrounded by his family, according to his online obituary. He was 74.
Bingaman spent 20 years with the Aquarion Water Co. before joining RWA in 2009, right after the Great Recession, when his “leadership helped guide the company through that difficult time and strengthened it to withstand future economic downturns including the COVID pandemic recession,” company officials said.
He previously held leadership positions at United Technologies and Texaco.
Bingaman, according to the company, was at the helm for the development of the RWA’s first integrated five-year strategic plan, helped achieve the highest bond rating in the RWA’s history, and established new cost-saving operating and productivity initiatives, among other accomplishments.
Bingaman was seen at the state Capitol earlier this year, lobbying lawmakers to approve a provision that would grant the New Haven-based public water authority the ability to make a bid for Aquarion Water Co., which was put up for sale earlier this year by Eversource. That provision was approved, opening up RWA for further potential expansion.
He was an advocate for public higher education, forming partnerships with Southern Connecticut State University, Gateway Community College and other schools where he offered scholarships and was a frequent guest speaker in the classroom, talking about the value of ethical conduct and conscious business practices, the company said.
He also helped create the public utility management degree program at SCSU and GCC after seeing a need in business and an opportunity for students to find careers in the utility industry.
A public memorial service for Bingaman is planned for Nov. 22 from 4-7 p.m. at the Guilford Funeral Home, 115 Church St.
In the short term, Rochelle Kowalski, RWA’s vice president and CFO, and Sunny Lakshminarayanan, vice president of engineering and environmental services, will assume the CEO’s responsibilities, the company said.
RWA provides water and services to roughly 430,000 people in 15 cities and towns throughout Greater New Haven.
