Paul K. Sybrowsky (The Church of Jesus Christ)
Just months after announcing his resignation as president of Southern Virginia University, Paul Kay Sybrowsky, former member of the Second Quorum of the Seventy for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, passed away on Sept. 10 in Salt Lake City at the age of 70 after battling a prolonged illness.
Known for his strong business sense, experience and ability to work hard, Elder Sybrowsky became the 17th president of Southern Virginia University on June 1, 2012. He worked in that role a little more than two years when he announced his resignation. As of Aug. 31 he became a senior advisor to the board of trustees.
“I have loved my time as president of this amazing institution, but after much personal reflection I feel that it is time to let another take the mantle and continue to move the university forward,” he is quoted saying on the Southern Virginia University website dated June 18. “It was with a heavy heart that I informed the board of my decision to step down, but it is the right decision for me and my family at this time. I will miss the wonderful students, faculty, and staff, with whom I had the pleasure to work these past years and I look forward to helping the university however I can in my new capacity.”
Elder Paul K. Sybrowsky, former member of the Second Quorum of the Seventy for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, dies at age 70. (Lindsey Morgan, Southern Virginia University)
Prior to his time at Southern Virginia University, Elder Sybrowsky spent his career in business working as general manager or an executive for many companies and later co-founded Dynix Inc — a computer catalog system for libraries.
He spent much of his life dedicated to his faith. Service opportunities followed him wherever he lived — whether it was in Canada, England or Australia. Once he finished one assignment he quickly accepted another.
Whether it was accepting the call to serve as a young missionary in the Canada Toronto Mission from 1964-1966, in a bishopric, as a stake president, president of the Canada Toronto West Mission from 2001-2004 or his call to the Second Quorum of the Seventy from April 2, 2005, to Oct. 1, 2011, Elder Sybrowsky looked to the motto he and his wife, Lynne, established for their family: “If Christ had my opportunities, what would He do?”
“Service is work,” Elder Sybrowsky said in an interview reported in the Church News after his call to be a general authority in 2005. “Service is meant to be work. … Service is meant to take something from us and give to others. There is sacrifice, whether it be in time or resources or energy or whatever. We must serve. We must serve each other in our homes, within our families, in our communities and in our wards.”
Elder Sybrowsky was born on August 22 in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Paul H. and Betty Ann Sybrowsky. He studied general education at the Church College of Hawaii and later earned a bachelor’s degree in social science from Brigham Young University, where he met his wife, Evelyn “Lynne” Prior. They were married on May 15, 1968, in the Salt Lake Temple and are the parents of nine children.
