Cape Girardeau native Forsee takes leave of absence from University of Missouri leadership

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- University of Missouri system president and former Cape Girardeau resident Gary Forsee is taking a leave of absence after learning that his wife has cancer, according to the Columbia Daily Tribune.

Sherry Forsee's diagnosis followed an emergency appendectomy last week, board of curators member Warren Erdman told the Daily Tribune.

Erdman told the newspaper he does not expect Forsee's personal leave to disrupt university business. General Counsel Steve Owens will fill in for Forsee and handle day-to-day operations during Forsee's expected short-term absence.

Forsee has been president of the four-campus system since February 2008. He was previously chairman and CEO of Sprint Nextel in Kansas City. He moved to Cape Girardeau with his family in 1966, graduated from high school and returned during summer breaks from the University of Missouri-Rolla to work for Procter & Gamble. He and his wife have maintained ties to the region, and in 2000 donated $25,000 to the Southeast Missouri University Foundation for an endowed scholarship.