Wally Elmer

He lived a life defined by loyalty.

He was a truly loyal family man. He was married for more than 45 years to his beloved wife and best friend, Sheila. They had a wonderful life together; to the very end, he held her hand and pledged his love to her. He was a loving, dedicated and proud father to his two children, Robert and Kathryn (Elmer) Hellings, and he was a warm and loving father-in-law to their respective spouses, Alissa and Richard. He was a doting, spoiling and proud grandfather and Pop-Pop to his five grandchildren, Braeden, Morgan, and Max Elmer, and Chase and Reagan Hellings. Indeed, it was the role of grandfather that brought him perhaps his greatest joy - logging countless hours watching his grandchildren play every sport imaginable, often in inclement weather and always with passion and joy. He traversed Disney World - children and grandchildren in tow- more times than he could count, but always with a childlike excitement. There is quite literally nothing he wouldn't do for his grandchildren. A Louisiana native, he is also survived by his brothers Willie and Walter Elmer, who despite residing in New Iberia, Louisiana, remained close to his heart. And, finally, he will be deeply missed by his red and white Irish Setter, Murphy, who he joyfully walked for miles each day.

He was a loyal member of the LeMoyne faculty. After obtaining a PhD from Syracuse University, he spent his entire career at LeMoyne College, starting his career as a business and marketing professor, and later becoming MBA program director and finally Dean of the School of Business. During his long tenure at LeMoyne, he was instrumental in both the development of the school's MBA program and the establishment of the Madden School of Business. He sent both his son and daughter to LeMoyne for their undergraduate studies, and he took great pride in their subsequent academic and professional successes.

He was a lifelong Syracuse sports fan and a recent, but fiercely loyal member of the Washington Redskins football nation. His presence will be deeply missed at both the Carrier Dome and Fed Ex Field on gameday. He was an avid golfer, spending much of his adult life on the golf course with his son-in-law, grandsons, and lifelong friends, enjoying the game, the surrounding wildlife, and mostly the comraderie.

He was funny, smart, generous and truly loving. He will be missed by LeMoyne College, his community, his friends and his family. His was an exceptional, and yet simple, honest life. He touched many lives and the world is a better – and smarter – place because of him.

A Mass will be held in Wally's honor on Friday, October 14 at 9 a.m. at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 259 East Onondaga Street, Syracuse, New York. The family will visit with relatives and friends following Mass from 10- 11:30 am at the Cathedral.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the following GoFundMe campaign, created to fund a scholarship in Wally's memory: https://www.gofundme.com/2t7m9cyc?r=54775.