Penn State Brandywine Founder Dies

The namesake of Penn State Brandywine's library and a founding campus executive officer died on Jan. 1 at the age of 91, according to the Delaware County Daily Times.

John Vairo, of Middletown, died at home, after a yearlong battle with esophageal cancer, according to the Daily Times.

. He was proud than to see his grandson was set to attend

Vairo, who’s grandson James Archambo was graduating, was teaching at Penn State Main Campus and was asked to come to the Delaware Valley and create a much-needed campus here many years ago.

"We opened with 36 students and 11 faculty," Vairo said in June.

The library at Penn State Brandywine may be named after Vairo but he was sure not to influence the school or his grandson on attending his namesake.

Vairo said at the graduation ceremony that students need about six months to get used to college and "level out" but he had no doubt he’s grandson would do just fine.