To: Faculty, Staff, and Students
From: President Ashish Vaidya
Date: 06/15/22
Subject: Sad News
Dear Colleagues:
It is with deep sadness that I share news of the passing of our friend and colleague, Bruce Smith. Bruce passed away unexpectedly this past Saturday. He was a valued member of our NKU family since joining Human Resources as the director of benefits in April 2018, and he will be greatly missed.
His coworkers in Human Resources remember Bruce as a kind, compassionate leader with a sense of humor that brightened everyone’s day.
Bruce lived a remarkable life. He played college football for Ohio State in 1969 and in 1970 when the Buckeyes won the national championship at the Rose Bowl. He served in the U.S. Army and spent more than 30 years helping employees to understand their benefit offerings. He enjoyed spending time with his family and golfing, and he loved peach cobbler! His team will miss being greeted by his smile each morning.
Losing a member of our campus community impacts each of us, so please remember that it is always OK to ask for help. University Wellness provides the Employee Assistance Program through Aetna and offers online resources and counselors, which are available anytime.
I send my sympathies to his family, friends and to the campus community. Please keep them in your thoughts. We will share the details regarding arrangements as we hear more from Bruce’s family.
Sincerely,
Ashish Vaidya
