Juniata College community mourns loss of Aurand
HUNTINGDON — Juniata College had a heavy heart this week.
Memorial Gymnasium in Juniata’s Kennedy Sports & Recreation Center was filled with more than 600 student-athletes, coaches, campus employees and community members who came to honor Dave Aurand’s life.
Aurand passed away unexpectedly from a heart attack on March 15. He was 59.
Having started in the facilities department and most recently serving as the athletic department’s equipment supervisor, Aurand was a well-known and beloved member of the college community in his 13 years of employment.
“He’s probably the one position that had direct interaction with every student-athlete we have,” Greg Curley, athletic director and men’s basketball coach, said. “Just from a sense of who he touched with his work every day, his impact is hard to put into words.”
Aurand was known for his tireless work ethic and commitment to excellence in all that he did.
“He wanted to make sure everything was right for student-athletes,” Jeff Leydig, head athletic trainer, said. “The biggest reason he did that is he wanted athletes to have the best experience they could have here.”
Aurand’s impact extended far beyond his line of work. Among his most notable qualities were his larger than life personality and his ability to form relationships with everyone he encountered.
“He wouldn’t just walk in and do his job and walk out. He would take the time to talk, to get to know somebody and to just reach out,” Danny Young-Uhrich, senior woman administrator and head basketball coach, said. “He was someone you wanted to talk to, wanted to high-five, wanted to ask how your day was.”
Aurand was described as a hard-working, dedicated, caring individual, and those qualities earned him the respect of faculty and students alike.
“Respect is a two-way street, and nobody knew that better than Dave. Dave gave respect, and he got tremendous respect in return,” football coach Tim Launtz said.
Through his connections with others and the way he carried himself and performed in his job every day, Aurand was unique.
“He set an example for what it means to be a member of the Juniata community,” President James Troha said. “He was always willing to pitch in, always being that kind-hearted person who was ready to help whenever it was needed.”
Aurand demonstrated the qualities of a true team player in all that he did.
“If (our athletes) walk out of here and they take anything from Dave, it’s that selflessness and understanding that the great opportunity is to be a part of something bigger than yourself,” Curley said.
“We all pull for each other, but if you want an example of how a person can pull for every single team, it’s Dave,” Leydig said.
Friday’s service included remarks from three student-athletes, all of whom testified to Aurand’s role as a friend, mentor and role model.
Aurand not only influenced the lives of the student-athletes at the college, but he also left an imprint on the community through the love he and his family demonstrated to many.
“The Aurands are very well-known in the community for what they do. They provide opportunities for kids, and they are great at it,” Young-Uhrich said.
“We always talk about leaving it better than you found it,” Launtz said. “Well, Dave Aurand left it better than he found it, and we’re all better off for that opportunity to be around him.”
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