Syracuse University announced it will create a scholarship in honor of Rob Edson, former senior associate director of athletics who died this weekend.

The scholarship will provide assistance to athletes who leave the university without receiving a degree but return to school to earn it at a later date. Edson, 45, a 1990 alumnus who was most recently the athletic director at Onondaga Community College, was the husband of Sue Edson, assistant director of athletics for communications, according to The Buffalo Bills’ website.

Contributions to the scholarship can be sent to the Orange Club with a notation for the “Rob Edson Scholarship Fund,” according to the website.

OCC is in the process of creating a scholarship dedicated to Edson, said Jeanne Albanese, a friend of Edson.  Albanese said she befriended him when they were both undergraduate students at SU. Edson, she said, was a well-respected member of not only the SU athletic program, but also the Syracuse community.

Services will be held in Hendricks chapel Thursday morning, Albanese said.

During his 20-year tenure at SU, Edson also served as chief financial officer for SU Athletics, where he oversaw the department’s budgeting, purchasing and analysis, among other things. Edson also assisted with multiple SU sports teams’ scheduling and game operations, according to the SU Athletics website.