Imagine, if you will, walking into the first Sci-Fi club meeting of the year and hearing of the mighty Lord High Chancellor—an evil genius of Blofeld proportions, he plots the conquest of the world by way of Canada.

 
It was a pretty surreal way to meet Ron Vick, club advisor and counselor extraordinaire.

 
Meeting him through the International Club is probably a lot lower-key, but anybody who stepped into his office in the counseling center would know right away that the man loved his fantasy in all its flavors. It was covered wall-to-wall with sci-fi memorabilia and art, even before it inevitably became storage space in the leadup to WillyCon every year.

 
Ron was born in Idaho in 1959. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Chadron State College and was hired to work here at WSC in 1997. He wore a lot of hats on campus, as his roles ranged from course instructor to licensed counselor to advisor for international students, to name but a few.

 
“Ron was a valued colleague, dedicated to student success in a way that they could see and experience. He did his work quietly and powerfully,” fellow counselor Karen Granberg said. “His presence will linger with us for a long while through the lives that he touched.”

 
Within hours of his fatal heart attack last Tuesday morning (March 22), a Facebook group sprang up for people who knew Ron to share stories, pictures and news about him. The posts ranged from simple messages to the effect of “Rest in peace,” to stories of exactly how his efforts touched the lives of students he helped and people he knew.

 
“Anyone who’s spoken with Ron would recognize his soft voice immediately,” student Taylor Penn said. “That voice is now in all of our minds, reminding us to keep going and reassuring us that we will rise above this time just as he would have in his life.”

 
A service will be held for Ron at 5 p.m. on Thursday in Ramsey Theatre. It will feature music, pictures, and other activities he enjoyed. After the service, there will be an open microphone for people wishing to share stories or thoughts on his life.