OHIO community mourns the passing of alumna and supporter Jenny Grasselli Brown

Jeanette Grasselli Brown stands at a podium during a Frontiers in Science lecture

When Jeanette (Gescy) Grasselli Brown, BS ’50, HDS ’78, joined 51��'s chemistry program in the 1940s, she was often the only woman in the room. Her groundbreaking career and decades of transformative philanthropy show that being first often means lighting the path for others to follow.

Known to friends and family as Jenny, Grasselli Brown passed away on July 15, 2025, at age 96. She leaves behind a legacy of steadfast generosity, scientific insight and transformative leadership. The only female chemistry major in her graduating class, she earned her degree summa cum laude and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. From the start, Grasselli Brown’s devotion to learning and science shaped her lasting commitment to advancing education and research at 51��.

Grasselli Brown endowed numerous funds and scholarships, including the Jeanette G. Grasselli Brown Undergraduate Research Award, which supports student-led research. She also played a pivotal role in shaping the Cutler Scholars Program and contributed significant financial support to the chemistry department, the Frontiers in Science Lecture Series and the Kennedy Museum of Art.

Established in 1994, the Cutler Scholars Program is OHIO’s premier merit scholarship for students who are driven to explore how they can use their skills and interests to make a positive impact in their communities. Grasselli Brown was among the program’s founding donors and served as a mentor to Cutler Scholars. Maria Moura Salles, a junior studying marketing and retail and fashion merchandising, remembers Grasselli Brown’s lasting influence.

“Although I only met Jenny once, her warmth and kindness are something I’ll never forget,” Salles said. “She was a trailblazing woman who reshaped the path I walk today and opened doors to opportunities I never thought possible. Her impact lives on in the stories and futures she helped make possible, including my own.”

former 51�� President Robert Glidden and 51�� Student Trustee Dustin Wood stand at a podium with Jeanette Grasselli Brown between them — Former OHIO President Robert Glidden (left) and former Student Trustee
Dustin Wood, BA ’05, MED ’07, present Jeanette Grasselli Brown with the
John C. Baker Founder's Award in 2003.

Grasselli Brown’s support of the chemistry department was equally impactful. Through the Jeanette Grasselli Brown Chemistry Fund, she enabled student and faculty conference travel, summer research stipends, equipment purchases and supplemental faculty research support. Her dedication helped make the department a center for innovation and excellence.

She established the Frontiers in Science Lecture Series in 1991, which has brought world-renowned scientists—including Nobel Prize winners and leading researchers—to campus. The series continues to inspire the OHIO community through intellectual curiosity and academic exchange.

Grasselli Brown championed the arts as well. Her support for the Kennedy Museum of Art reflected her belief in the power of creativity as part of a well-rounded education. She also served as an Honorary Trustee for Life at the and was active in other cultural institutions.

Her professional accomplishments are as remarkable as her philanthropy: more than 90 publications, nine books and around 1,000 presentations to students, conferences and the public. She received numerous accolades, including the Hungarian , the and the . She was the first woman inducted into the and was a member of the , among many other honors.

Most recently, she was awarded the 23^rd annual , which recognizes individuals whose innovation provides the tools needed for scientific discovery. The and the jointly honored Grasselli Brown at Pittcon in March for her contributions to the development of spectroscopy, the study of the absorption and emission of light and other radiation by matter.

51�� President Lori Stewart Gonzalez stands next to alumna Jeanette Grasselli Brown with her arm over Jeanette's shoulder — President Lori Stewart Gonzalez
with Jeanette Grasselli Brown.
University file photo

At OHIO, she has been celebrated with the Wilfred R. and Ann Lee Konneker Award for Distinguished and Enduring Service, the 51�� Alumni Association’s Alumna of the Year Award, the and the Leona Hughes Inspiration Award from Women in Philanthropy. She was a trustee emerita of and served as a member of the 51�� Board of Trustees. She also served as a chairperson of the Ohio Board of Regents.

“Jenny was a pioneering scientist, a devoted alumna, and one of 51��'s most transformative supporters,” said President Lori Stewart Gonzalez. “Her legacy is etched not only in the programs and scholarships she helped build, but in the lives of the students and faculty she empowered through her vision and generosity. Jenny believed deeply in the power of education and the importance of opening doors for others—and that belief will continue to shape this University for generations to come.”

According to her obituary, those who wish to honor Grasselli Brown’s memory may do so through a contribution to the Cleveland Orchestra or to a charity of their choice. Interment will be private, and a celebration of life will be held at a to-be-determined date.

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