The story of how Ray Di Pasquale was picked as president of the Community College of Rhode Island more than 10 years ago was told twice last Wednesday night to an audience of 225 admirers at the Crowne Plaza.

One version came from Frank Caprio, who at the time was chairman of the Rhode Island Board of Governors for Higher Education.

The second version came from Di Pasquale at the end of the evening when he was presented with The DaVinci Center for Community Progress Community Humanitarian Award. Both stories offered different perspectives, yet the consensus was that from the first meeting there was a strong bond between the two men.

Former commissioner of higher education Jack Warner suggested Di Pasquale for the job. The two had come to know each other while working for the State University of New York. At the time, Di Pasquale was vice president of enrollment management and student affairs at SUNY College at Brockport.

Di Pasquale leaves state employment at the end of the month. He left as CCRI president on Jan. 31 and his successor, Meghan Hughes, has been on the job since February.

As Caprio related, the interview started at the Coast Guard House in Narragansett and lasted far longer than expected. Caprio looked to continue the discussion and invited Di Pasquale back to his home, where they continued talking into the night.

“By the end of the day, I had my man,” he said.

What Caprio didn’t know, and Di Pasquale didn’t tell him, was that Di Pasquale faced a seven-hour drive home. Caprio learned of that sometime later, which was consistent with the overall opinion of the man who assumed control of the college during a turbulent period where the faculty passed a vote of no confidence in the prior president.

Turning to Di Pasquale, Caprio said, “I underestimated you; you were better than I thought you were.”

In later comments, Caprio, who served as master of ceremonies, spoke of how Di Pasquale always looked to bring out people’s full potential and how he had left the college in a better place.

It was a sentiment echoed by Michael Ryan in a video presentation about Di Pasquale. Ryan was a member of the Board of Governors that selected Di Pasquale. Ryan said Di Pasquale is what the state “needed at that time” and that “he cared about the staff and the students.”

Di Pasquale’s version of that first meeting had Caprio leaving him with his wife. When Caprio returned to the room, Di Pasquale said he had the impression she had given her approval and there was the chance he’d be offered the job.

Di Pasquale thanked Caprio for that “first opportunity to be a college president.” He also talked of the support he received from so many during his tenure, singling out Sondra Pitts, who is a member of the college’s first graduating class in 1966 and was co-chair of the college’s 50th anniversary celebration in 2014.

“She did so much for me,” he said.

Di Pasquale also talked about “dreams” and the DaVincis’ rich history of bringing people and organizations together to improve the lives of people in Providence. Then speaking about the power of educators, he said, “The impact on students is amazing. There is no better job in the world because we’re changing people’s lives.”

He said “board-based education is needed now more than ever,” and that education needs to remain focused on enabling people to achieve their dreams.

DiPasquale didn’t disclose his own immediate dreams but, according to those close to him, he is looking for a leadership position in education and on several occasions was a finalist for high-level positions at institutions outside the state. In an email, he said he is looking at several opportunities, including interim appointments in higher education.

During his tenure here, Di Pasquale served in the dual position as president and commissioner of higher education for three years after Warner left the state.