The University of Findlay community is mourning the loss of Desmond V. Buford, a University alumnus and director of Intercultural Student Services, who passed away April 5 at Blanchard Valley Hospital.

“Des was a great friend to me, a true colleague, and a genuine and kind person,” said David Emsweller, vice president for student services. “He touched so many lives in so many positive ways on a daily basis, and he has been taken from us far too soon.”

Desmond Buford

Mr. Buford had been an active member of the campus community since 1985, when he started classes as a freshman at then-Findlay College. He was a four-year member of the basketball team, which he captained in his senior year.

He earned a bachelor of arts degree with a major in business administration and minors in marketing and economics, in 1990. He was named in the 1990 edition of Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities. In 1999, he earned a master of business administration (MBA) degree.

Mr. Buford became an assistant men’s basketball coach upon graduation and joined the admissions office as a counselor. He was named assistant director of admissions in 1993 and associate director of admissions in 1999. He developed an admissions staff handbook and played a key role in recruiting eight of the largest freshman classes in the institution’s history. He served as interim director of admissions in 2004-05 in addition to his other responsibilities.

In September of 2002, he was named executive director of minority student services, a new position responsible for providing academic, social, emotional and cultural support for students on campus. The position title was changed to director of intercultural student services in July 2004, but responsibilities remained the same.

Mr. Buford continued to serve as an advocate for students of color, provide campuswide programming to educate the University community on issues of diversity and multiculturalism, and serve as a resource person for faculty, staff and students with questions on topics relating to diversity.

Mr. Buford advised the Black Student Union and worked with the organization on the Black Tie Affair, a formal night sponsored for the University community each year.  He also was deeply involved in the 2006 and 2007 planning for International Night, a major campus and community event.

He was an assistant men’s basketball coach under coach Ron Niekamp from 1991-1998, handling recruitment and aiding in practice and game strategy. He also coordinated administration of academic tutoring, contributing to a 90-95 percent graduation rate in the men’s basketball program. He remained active assisting with the basketball program at McComb High School, which went to the playoffs this spring.

“I’ve known Des Buford as a player, assistant basketball coach and colleague for the past 22 years. More recently, Des has served as a mentor for several basketball players,” coach Niekamp said. “Being the very first player that I recruited to Findlay, Des will always be remembered for the kind, gentle and caring person that he was. I always felt that he was a shining example of what all our student-athletes could strive to become.”

Visitation will be from 2 to 10 p.m. Monday, with the family present from 2 to 4 and 6 to 9 p.m., at the Kirkpatrick-Behnke Funeral Home, 500 Lima Ave. A funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. Michael the Archangel Church, 750 Bright Road. A campus memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. Wednesday, April 18, in the Winebrenner Theological Seminary Auditorium. Memorials may be made to Intercultural Student Services, c/o The University of Findlay, or to the Black Heritage Library.