In Memoriam: John D. "Jack" Brush Jr. '50
I write to share the very sad news that Trustee Emeritus John D. "Jack" Brush Jr.
passed away on Monday, February 6 after a valiant struggle against a virulent cancer.
Jack and his family are four-generation Laurentians. His father, John
D. Brush Sr., a long-time trustee, was a member of the Class of 1922,
and his mother Edna Jeanne Brush the Class of 1924. Jack's brother, Richard
F. "Dick" Brush, Class of 1952, is also trustee emeritus. Jack's son,
Jim '77, and daughter Suzanne McGrath '80, followed their father and mother
Nancy '53 to St. Lawrence, and Jim currently serves as a trustee. Jim's
wife Cathy is a member of the Class of 1979, and their son Davis the Class
of 2008. Suzy's husband Kevin McGrath is Class of 1977, and their son
Conor the Class of 2007. When Jack married June Leenhouts, he welcomed
two additional Laurentians to his family, Deborah Leenhouts Shumway, Class
of 1981 and Catherine Leenhouts Struzzi, Class of 1994. The Brush Alumni
House and the Richard F. Brush Art Gallery on campus are only a part of
the story of the Brush family's great loyalty, dedication and generosity
to the University. Jack's St. Lawrence philanthropy was quiet, wonderfully
thoughtful and substantial.
Coming to St. Lawrence after serving in the U.S. Air Force, Jack earned his degree in
psychology. He later earned an M.B.A. at Harvard, and continued study at the
University of Rochester and Rochester Institute of Technology. As an undergraduate,
he was president of SAE fraternity; elected to Kixioc; editor of the Gridiron;
a member of IFC; and advertising manager of The Hill News.
He joined the John D. Brush & Co., Inc., founded by his father in 1930, after
graduation. He served as president of the firm, which manufactures and markets
fire- and theft-resistant steel safes, from 1965 to 1971; he was a vice president
and secretary of the firm, which became the Sentry Group in 1987, until his
retirement. Jack was very involved in the Rochester business community, and
also in that city's First Universalist Church.
Extremely active as an alumnus, Jack was president of the Rochester area alumni
club; member of the Alumni Executive Council; and Class Agent. He was elected to
the Board of Trustees in 1970, serving until 1989, when he was awarded emeritus
status. As a trustee, he served on the budget and finance; investment;
architecture and physical plant; and academic and faculty affairs committees.
Following his service as a trustee, he represented the University on the
Council of Governing Boards, New York State's organization for higher education
trustees.
Jack had retired from active trusteeship by the time Ann and I came back to
St. Lawrence in 1996, but he would occasionally attend trustee meetings with
fellow emeritus trustees and he followed what was happening on campus and our
strategic planning closely. When we spoke his deep interest in the University
and his love for it was palpable -- right there for all to see.
Ann and I extend our deepest sympathy Jack's wife June and the entire Brush family
in this difficult time. We have lost a legendary Laurentian. We will miss him very
much.
The service is at 12:30 pm Saturday, February 11 at the First Universalist
Church of Rochester, 150 South Clinton, Rochester, NY.
President Daniel F. Sullivan
February 8, 2006
