A man that meant a lot to the Butler County community- and even more to Butler County Community College- has passed away.
Ray Steffler of Valencia died Saturday at a Pittsburgh hospital after a brief battle with cancer.
Steffler had been chairman of BC3’s board of trustees for the past 20 years, which is longer than any other person.
“He meant absolutely everything in the world to the college,” BC3 President Dr. Nick Neupauer said Monday. “He was a tremendous leader. I believe much of the success that BC3 has achieved over the years all has a dotted line going back to Mr. Steffler.”
That success includes back-to-bank top rankings by Schools.com; the success of the BC3 Foundation; BC3’s expansion into a number of different areas in northwestern Pennsylvania; and the school’s continued excellence in academics, according to Neupauer.
Steffler joined BC3’s board of trustees in 1985, and begun serving as chairman in 1999.
The BC3 board continues to meet in the Steffler Board Room inside the science and technology building, named in honor of Steffler in 2013.
“He was an incredible leader who showed great support and patience,” Neupauer said. “He was a visionary.”
Steffler’s funeral arrangements are being handled by the Thompson-Miller Funeral Home in Butler.
Ray Steffler was 82 years old.
