Collegiate Times

Former Virginia Tech President Bill Lavery died Monday night. He had served as president from 1975 to 1987.

He also served as a mentor to Pamplin Scholar and sophomore animal and poultry sciences major Erin Heller on her Pamplin Project involving dog walking and adoption through the veterinary college.

Heller said Lavery, "wasn't quite a grandfather, but almost.  He always had good ideas about how I should go about doing things, and he was always really gracious and welcomed me to his home and made me feel really comfortable when I was there talking to him. He never came across like an authority figure."

Lavery, who grew up in western central New York, graduated from Michigan State University in 1953 and, after a stint in the army, achieved advanced degrees from George Washington University and the University of Wisconsin before coming to Tech in 1966. In a 1992 interview with Virginia Tech Magazine, Lavery said, "after 26 years, this is home. Long ago we decided that when we left the presidency we would stay right here and serve Virginia Tech and the community."

The "we" he referred to is his wife, Peggy, who by all accounts was a close compatriot in both Lavery's life and presidency. Heller noticed their special bond during several trips to Lavery's home.

"Whenever I went over to talk to him, his wife was always there with us joining in on the conversation," Heller said. "It was always them together."

Lavery is survived by his wife, four children (Mike, Debbie, Laurie and Mary) and 12 grandchildren.

"We were always having family get-togethers," growing up, said Sean Lavery, a junior finance major. "Every holiday was spent here up in Blacksburg. Ever since I can remember I've been here at Tech and hanging out with him, and I was lucky enough to have been here for the last two-and-a-half years so I could go over to my grandparent's house and see them."

Even away from formal university responsibility, Lavery remained engaging and in touch with a bevy of long-time friends.

"After he retired he would call and the first thing out of his mouth was 'Minnis, how are you doing?'' said Minnis Ridenour, a senior fellow for resource development who was hired by Lavery in 1974. "He was always deeply interested in that question: How are you doing?' He really had a deep interest in people."

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