Thomas P. Dydyk pleaded innocent to a felony count of grand larceny and was released on his own recognizance May 10, the Syracuse Post-Standard reported May 11.
Dydyk allegedly sold the painting to the owner of a local antique shop, who recognized it as Ben Porter, a valuable work by John Dodgson Barrow, and took it to an appraiser; the appraiser notified officials when he confirmed the painting was an original that had been donated to the library nearly 100 years ago.
In a statement to investigators, Dydyk admitted taking the painting from a library storage room in October, Syracuse station WSTM-TV reported May 13. “The painting stayed in my garage until this past weekend, when I was having a garage sale,” he said. “I did feel bad about selling the painting and knew that I shouldn’t and that I should have returned the painting.”
Many who knew Dydyk through his involvement with the library and arts community were shocked by the charges. “I guess we’re all just hoping it’s a mistake,” said Sally McDonald, a member of the Friends board. “It just doesn’t seem like the kind of thing he would do.”
Posted May 19, 2003.