Milton Ford, the founding director of Grand Valley State University’s LGBT Resource Center and a professor of liberal studies, passed away March 19 at age 72 after battling cancer for several years.

Ford also helped create the LGBTQ Studies minor at GVSU and pushed for the university to adopt domestic partner benefits.

The visitation will be held March 31 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Cook-DeWitt Center. A memorial will be held that night at 6 p.m. in the Louis Armstrong Theatre at the Performing Arts Center.

In addition, the Ford Memorial was created for people wishing to make a donation in his honor. The money will go to the LGBT Resource Center.