The Roanoke Times | File 2007

Paul Torgersen teaches one class a semester -- Theory of Organization, a leadership course for engineering students at Virginia Tech.

Former Virginia Tech President Paul Torgersen has been diagnosed with throat cancer.

Reached at his office Thursday, Torgersen, who still teaches at Tech, thanked people for the support he's received since he was diagnosed early this month.

"The support from friends, alumni, from very recent students I've had in my class ... you don't realize just how wide a network of people you've come to know until someone kind of rings a bell and says, 'Let's tell this guy how much we care.' "

Torgersen, 76, was Tech's president from 1993 to 2000 and served as dean of the College of Engineering for 20 years. He continued teaching during his tenure as president and has taught at Tech every year since his arrival 41 years ago. He now teaches one class a semester -- Theory of Organization, a leadership course for engineering students.

During his tenure as president, Tech overcame financial problems and emerged as a prominent research university and leader in the use of information technology. Tech also launched several major construction projects including the completion of a new engineering building, an underground architecture facility, a biotechnology center and a health and athletic center.

Torgersen said he and his wife are private people and he didn't want to get into details about the cancer.

He was diagnosed after visiting the doctor because of a sore in the back of his mouth. He received his first round of chemotherapy treatment last week. It left him exhausted for a couple of days, but he said Thursday that he's feeling better. He'll undergo another round of chemotherapy before deciding on what further treatment will be needed.

"We still have some bridges to cross," he said. "It's kind of a step at a time."

Torgersen's daughter Karen Torgersen started a Facebook group, "We Support Paul Torgersen," about 10 days ago. The group on the social networking Internet site had 1,197 members as of Thursday.

Karen Torgersen is the director of marketing at the University of Virginia and said she's seen firsthand how quickly news can spread through Facebook.

"When I found out about my dad I felt a little helpless because I'm in Charlottesville," she said. "And I thought, 'I've got to do something.' I don't think my dad has ever really understood the kind of support he has."

Lynn Nystrom, director of news and external relations for the College of Engineering, said it's no surprise Torgersen has received so much support. She recalled how, when she first started working as an information officer in the college in 1978, she was approached by Torgersen one day with a question and an urgent request.

"What are you doing?" he said. "I need you to take a student to the airport."

The student's father, he explained, had just been in an accident and was not expected to survive. Torgersen bought the student a plane ticket so he could get home in time to say goodbye. He did.

"Those are the kind of things that he has done for people over the years," Nystrom said.

The Facebook group's description says Torgersen doesn't want sympathy but it asks for people to send cards and notes of support. It lists his goals for August as "dancing with his granddaughter at her wedding," "attending all Virginia Tech football practices" and "teaching his class."

Karen Torgersen said she hoped that by encouraging people to send her father letters of support, it would make what will be a difficult summer a little easier for him to bear. His address -- 1503 Highland Circle in Blacksburg -- is listed on the group's Facebook page.

Torgersen said he receives get-well cards every day from friends and cancer survivors offering encouragement and advice. The outpouring of support from the community of cancer survivors, many of whom he didn't even know, has been "awesome," he said.

Torgersen also received a card from Tech athletic director Jim Weaver, himself diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2004, and one from Tech football coach Frank Beamer.

"I'm on a tight schedule because I have a sideline pass for football and I have to get out there and give Beamer some help," Torgersen said.