Central Florida AdventHealth CEO Who Defended Gay Adventist Teacher Resigns
6 January 2021 | Orlando Weekly reported today that AdventHealth Central Florida division president and CEO, Daryl Tol, has quit his job. He did not give a reason for his decision.
The resignation surprised AdventHealth leadership, who called his decision “unanticipated.”
Tol was in the news in October of last year when the Orlando Sentinel reported his defense of Steven Arauz, a teacher fired from Adventist-run Forest Lake Education Center after an article was published confirming he was gay. Tol defended Arauz in an email sent to his employees.
“As an active member of his Seventh-day Adventist church, [Arauz] has been a friend to many, including me,” wrote Tol in the email. “He has taught the children of our team members, mine included, and he’s been a strong advocate for foster care and adoption throughout the state of Florida.”
“I want to thank Daryl for his many years of service to AdventHealth and his leadership both to our organization and the communities we serve, especially during the greatest challenge the health care industry has faced in more than a century,” said Terry Shaw, president and CEO of AdventHealth in a statement run by Orlando Weekly. “Daryl’s decision was certainly unanticipated and he will be greatly missed.”
Daryl Tol photo credit: AdventHealth University