June 20, 2001
Contact:
Tim Marsh, WSU News Bureau, 509/335-2288, timarsh@wsu.edu
Barry E. Johnston – Director, WSU Business Services/Controller, 509/335-5703, bej@wsu.edu
WSU Accountant Ray Soderstrom Dies at Age 62
PULLMAN, Wash. — WSU accountant Ray Soderstrom, 62, died in Pullman Memorial Hospital this morning.
The cause of death was cardiopulmonary arrest, said hospital officials.
A Troy, Idaho, resident, Raymond Lee Soderstrom started with the university on June 8, 1987. He worked in Payroll Services, part of the Office of Business Services, and was in charge of direct deposit of WSU employee salaries to financial institutions. The office is located in French Administration Building.
According to his WSU supervisor, Barry Johnston, director, WSU Business Services/Controller, Soderstrom passed out in his work area, collapsed, hit his head and stopped breathing. Colleagues called 911. They gave CPR until WSU EMS and Pullman paramedic personnel arrived. The personnel provided emergency care and transported Soderstrom by ambulance to the hospital, located on the WSU campus. Soderstrom was treated and died in the hospital’s Emergency Care Unit.
Johnston said, “Ray was a superlative WSU employee, who embellished the goals of our office. He will be sorely missed. Everyone in the office mourns his loss, and our heartfelt sympathies go to his family, including his wife, children, grandchildren and brothers.”
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