After being a valued faculty member at Ithaca College form more than 30 years, Ithaca native John Galt ’74 died Monday after a short battle with cancer. He was 62-years-old.

Galt became the college’s staff accountant in July of 1973, a year prior to his graduation. After graduating from the college with a degree in accounting, Galt became the chief accountant in 1975, assistant controller in 1979 and budget director in 1980. He also served as a part-time lecturer for accounting courses in the School of Business. He had retired to North Carolina in 2007.

Carl Sgrecci, vice president of finance and administration and former accounting professor at the college, taught Galt and recommended him for his first accounting position at the college. Sgrecci said Galt was a pleasure to have in class.

When Sgrecci ended his time as a professor and joined the administration, he worked closely with Galt for more than 30 years and became good friends.

“He was just an outstanding individual, both on a professional basis and a personal basis,” Sgrecci said.

Anne Woodard, bursar and associate director of operations of student financial services, began working at the college the same year as Galt. She said they developed a friendship while learning the ropes together.

Woodard said she has many fond memories of Galt, including fun times they shared at annual New Year’s and Fourth of July parties. While obtaining her second degree in cinema and photography at the college, Woodard cast Galt in her doorknob film, a student-created film about death by a doorknob. She said he was hysterical in his role.

“He was just a natural ham,” she said. “I do have that as a lasting memory of him.”

Woodard said she enjoyed how Galt brought his sense of humor into the workplace.

“He was a great one for having nicknames for people. He used to call me Apple Annie,” she said. “He was extremely hardworking and dedicated. He always had that really good sense of humor and that ability to really get people to work hard, but doing it by being a very nice, warm, loving person.”

Galt also served in the U.S. Navy, and while he was stationed in England, he met his wife, Loreen. She formerly worked with alumni relations at the college. After he completed his service, he and his wife returned to Ithaca, where they had a son, Tim, and a daughter, Katie.

Sgrecci said Galt was a tremendous person who had many friends and helped a lot of people.

“It’s unfortunate that he went before his time,” he said. ”We’re going to be forever grateful for all that he did for Ithaca College.”