South Middlesex Times

Kenneth J. Iuso, who joined Rutgers University as a student and later became a beloved administrator serving the institution for 53 years, passed away on September 13 at the age of 85.

Iuso, a 1961 graduate of Rutgers College, is remembered for his deep connections and dedication to the university. He briefly played quarterback for the football team in the late 1950s, participated in John F. Kennedy’s inauguration with the Rutgers Color Guard in 1961, and hooded then-President Barack Obama during Rutgers' 250th anniversary commencement ceremony in 2016—an event his wife Carole described as one of his most cherished memories.

“Ken was Rutgers; he was the individual who best understood the inner workings of this most complicated institution,” said Courtney McAnuff, vice chancellor of enrollment management at Rutgers University-New Brunswick. McAnuff first met Iuso in 2006 and was his supervisor.

“Ken never turned a student away, whether or not they had an appointment. He was special; it is rare to have a person out of a community of 70,000 people stand out for his positive impact on others,” McAnuff added.

Iuso served under five university presidents before retiring in 2018. At that time, he was among the longest-serving faculty or staff members at Rutgers. According to a 2018 State of Rutgers-New Brunswick report, he registered over one million students and graduated over 300,000 alumni during his tenure.

During his 44-year tenure as registrar, Iuso transformed the registration process from using old tab cards to an online system.

“For me, he was a mentor; he was a teacher,” said University Registrar Kelley Sokolowski. “He gave me every opportunity to grow in my career; just a very kind person.”

Iuso came to Rutgers in 1957 on scholarships after being accepted by Columbia and Cornell universities. His father died when he was three years old, leaving his mother to raise him and his three older siblings alone. Financial struggles made Rutgers’ scholarship offers particularly attractive.

Majoring in economics and joining the prestigious honor society Cap and Skull were part of Iuso's academic journey at Rutgers. He also commanded the Queens Guard Precision Rifle Drill Team which won a national championship under his leadership in 1961.

After graduating in 1965, Iuso began working at Rutgers' admissions office and eventually became registrar in 1974.

In between these milestones, he married Carole—his high school sweetheart—in 1967 and earned a master’s degree in administration of higher education from Rutgers.

“Through a passion for his work and kindhearted thoughtfulness, Ken has made a difference here at Rutgers that will endure long past the conclusion of his tenure,” stated a resolution from the Rutgers Board of Governors in 2018.

“Ken is one of the best people I have ever had the pleasure to work with and he will be greatly missed,” said Juli Hibbard, registrar for Rutgers-New Brunswick. “Everyone I have talked to in recent days has talked about how Ken was the most genuine, kindhearted person you could ever meet.”

Known for always having time for colleagues or students seeking advice or solutions—a practice referred to by his assistant as "the confessional"—Iuso left an indelible mark on those around him.

“I would call him," Carole recalled her interactions with her husband’s secretary during such moments. "She said ‘Everybody in the university who has a problem comes to Ken.’”

In retirement, Iuso focused on gardening and considered completing his doctorate—a goal deferred decades earlier.

“He was the best thing in my life,” said Carole Iuso. “He made me better. He made my son better. He made us better.”

The family is holding a private service.