Remembering Valerie “Val” Dorsey’s Love for the George Fox Community

Following a difficult semester of loss at George Fox, our community is mourning yet another heartbreaking absence. A familiar face who was a longtime employee of Bon Appétit and a proud George Fox alumna passed away unexpectedly this month. Valerie Dorsey, whom many of us called “Val,” was 49 and a staple on campus for nearly two decades.

This coming June would have marked her 20th anniversary of employment with our contracted caterer, Bon Appétit. Over those two decades, Val worked nearly everywhere on campus, bringing her warmth to the Villa Cafe, the Cafe in Le Shana, the Bruin Den, and the Bridge Cafe. Most recently, she could be found greeting students and staff in the main servery at the salad bar.

Val’s dedication to her work extended into the summers, when she would work at Friendsview. She was also a reliable team member across the region, frequently traveling to help out at other Bon Appétit locations in the Portland area. Her team began to worry when Val, who was always dependable, didn’t answer work calls. On May 13, concerned coworkers traveled to her McMinnville home. They entered the residence and discovered that Val had passed away due to medical complications following a failure of her insulin pump that helped her manage her Type 1 diabetes.

Val’s deep connection to George Fox began long before she became an employee. Raised in Dayton, Oregon, she graduated from George Fox in 2003, where she studied food, nutrition and business. During her time as a student, she was an active part of campus life, even writing articles for the student newspaper, The Crescent. She carried a sense of pride in her education and loved it when she got to apply her knowledge of food and nutrition directly to her job.

Val was the embodiment of our Be Known promise to the students she interacted with daily.

“She was so sweet and cared about everyone,” shared Katie Anderson, assistant general manager of Bon Appétit. “She always had good things to say. She loved the George Fox community and the students.” Val made it a point to say hello, offer a kind word, and ensure that every student who crossed her path felt seen and known.

Her faith was central to who she was, guiding her gentle spirit and her interactions with everyone around her. She loved theatre and would often attend many of the George Fox productions. She also loved hunting for antiques and spending time outdoors. Coworker Patty Puntenney fondly remembers finding peace in long nature walks with Val during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Val had a love for animals – especially cats. She regularly wrote her name with two paw prints at the end. She spent her free time volunteering at local animal shelters and cared for two dogs, two bunnies and five cats at her home. Those pets miraculously made it a week on their own and are being cared for by coworkers until they find loving homes.

Val had no children and no surviving parents. She leaves behind a sister and a family made up of Bon Appétit coworkers, George Fox employees and students. I am deeply grateful for the time she spent nourishing both the bodies and souls of the community she loved so dearly. She will be missed.