Iona College recently lost Linda Bryant, who passed away suddenly and unexpectedly Feb. 29 at the age of 62.

Bryant worked as an administrative assistant in Admissions. She also served on a variety of Iona College committees, including Staff and Administrative Council, the Diversity Committee, and she was an adviser to the campus group Students of Caribbean Ancestry.

A prayer service was held for Bryant on March 2 in the Arrigoni Center.

Teresa Lucas, worked closely with her in Admissions, knew Bryant for over 24 years.

She was known for her fashion taste and distinctive personality.

“Her laugh was contagious,” Lucas said. “Every day was a different fashion statement.”

Rick Palladino chairs of the Staff and Administrative Council, on which Bryant served for a number of years, and was also her advisor when she attended Iona 10 years ago. Bryant decided to attend college at a later age.

“I would remind Linda that it was she who did the work and that she had much to be proud of in earning her Bachelor’s degree,” Palladino said. “You have to give credit to people with family and working full-time who also take classes to further their education – not an easy task.”

Bryant contributed a lot of her time to numerous functions at Iona. Besides serving on different organizations here, she had a passion for dance, served as a trustee for the Mount Vernon Public Library and taught herself Hebrew, according to Palladino.

Students have spent a lot of time with Bryant, from her involvement in different functions to the time she went to school.

“It seemed like the students that worked with her appreciated her,” said Mass Communication professor Dr. Anthony Kelso, who taught Bryant and worked with her on the Diversity Committee . “Everybody that knew her could probably agree that she was a no nonsense, straight forward and funny person. Personally I felt like she was embracing, very inclusive. She made people feel included.”

The flag on the main quad was lowered to half-mast in her memory.

“Everyone talked with her, and she, in return, would be sure to give you her own perspective on things,” Palladino said.

According to Vice President for Enrollment Management Mary Beth Carey, who also worked with Bryant, she was an intellectual, who constantly told them hilarious stories and watered their plants. There was never a dull moment.

They remember her as a spiritual being and her appreciation for nature.

“It’s hard to describe one fond memory of Linda,” Carey said. “Every day was a fond moment, she was an institution within an institution.”