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

When Jeanette (Gescy) Grasselli Brown, BS ’50, HDS ’78, joined Ohio University'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 Ohio University.

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.”

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 Cleveland Orchestra 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 President’s Medal of Merit, the Ellis Island National Medal of Honor and the Cleveland Heritage Medal. She was the first woman inducted into the Ohio Science and Technology Hall of Fame and was a member of the Ohio Women’s Hall of Fame, among many other honors.

Most recently, she was awarded the 23^rd annual Pittcon Heritage Award, which recognizes individuals whose innovation provides the tools needed for scientific discovery. The Science History Institute and the Pittsburgh Conference on Analytical Chemistry and Applied Spectroscopy 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.

At OHIO, she has been celebrated with the Wilfred R. and Ann Lee Konneker Award for Distinguished and Enduring Service, the Ohio University Alumni Association’s Alumna of the Year Award, the John C. Baker Founder’s Award and the Leona Hughes Inspiration Award from Women in Philanthropy. She was a trustee emerita of The Ohio University Foundation and served as a member of the Ohio University 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 Ohio University'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.