Through it all, Guillermin never betrayed any sense of concern, Mark Hine, an early Liberty student and the Senior Vice President for Student Affairs, said.

“He is a great example of how you walk through the fire and come out without even the smell of smoke on your clothes,” Hine said. “He really did take us through some difficult times.”

Though reserved and quiet, Guillermin became a popular figure among the student body, Hine said. Students knew him as “Dr. G” and were invited to cookouts at his Lynchburg home.

In an emailed statement, Jerry Falwell Jr., Liberty’s current president, said Guillermin was a serious scholar who was well respected by students and staff alike.

“Becki and I are truly saddened by the passing of Dr. Pierre Guillermin,” he wrote. “We have lost one of our founding administrators, a work colleague, and a cherished friend.”

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Throughout his time at Liberty, Guillermin suffered from a heart condition, which caused him to consider an early retirement several times in his career.