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Eden Prairie High Grieves The Loss Of Beloved Guard

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (WCCO) -- Students, parents and alumni of Eden Prairie High School grieved the loss of a beloved security guard Saturday.

Jerry Pittman, known as Pitter and Jer Bear, died suddenly Friday at the age of 58, and students, past and present, wrote messages everywhere from Facebook to the school's sidewalks to remember the man who touched so many lives.

Pittman worked as a security guard at the school for nine years, and students say that he was the kind of person who knew everyone's name and asked, sincerely, how they were doing.

"He was the inspiration to come to school," one student said.

Far from being just a security guard, Pittman, students say, had a smile that was contagious and a personality that fostered a family atmosphere in the school's halls.

"He was like a dad to a lot of people," one student said.

After hearing of Pittman's death, many students, with Sharpies in hand, took to writing letters to Pittman's family. Other students wrote on the school sidewalk with chalk and others posted messages on Facebook.

The school's principal says the counseling office at the high school will be open to students and family on Monday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.

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