Sterling College Board of Trustee member Bruce Bryant ’71 of Libertyville, Ill., passed away this weekend after a battle with cancer. Bryant has been a trustee at the College since 2012.

“Bruce will be deeply missed. He was optimistic, good-natured, and always had a smile on his face. He cared about Sterling College and employees and students as if they were his own family. Bruce was a spiritual leader as well, praying for the College and providing us with wise counsel,” said President Scott Rich.

Visitation will be at Burnett-Dane Funeral Home in Libertyville, Ill., from 4-8 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 26. The funeral will take place on Thursday, Feb. 27, at Christ Church in Lake Forest, Ill., at 11 a.m.

Bryant’s wish was for donations to be made to an organization run by friends of his, The Christian Light Foundation in Costa Rica. Checks can be made to World Outreach Ministry with Bryant/Kuzdas#171 on the subject line and sent to World Outreach Ministries, P.O. Box B, Marietta, GA, 30061. Information on the foundation can be found at CLFCostaRica.com.

As a Board member, Bryant was on the student life committee. Prior to joining the Board, Bryant was a member of the College’s National Advisory Council.

Bryant was a senior vice president of store operations of Walgreens, overseeing stores in the western region of the country. He began at Walgreens after graduating with a bachelor’s of science in business and economics from Sterling College in 1971. In 1974, he was promoted to store manager. He continued to progress to district manager in 1981 and became regional vice president in 1997. Two years later he became vice president and was named senior vice president- store operations in 2000.

He is survived by wife, Barbara ’73, and their three daughters.