Message from Dean Trevor Brown on the Death of Senator John Glenn

We mourn the loss of a remarkable human being, John Glenn. He died peacefully today.

John Glenn was a husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He adored his wife of 73 years, Annie, and his children, David and Lyn.

He was humble, funny, and generous. Even after leaving public life, he loved to meet with citizens, school children in particular. He thrilled to music and had a weakness for chocolate.

Senator Glenn was also a public servant. He served the nation as a combat pilot in World War II and the Korean War. He extended the United States’ reach into space as the first American to orbit the earth in 1962 and as the oldest human to travel in space at the age of 77 in 1998. He proudly represented the citizens of Ohio through elected office as a U.S. Senator for four terms until he retired in 1999.

He concluded his lifetime of service as the inspiration and patron of the John Glenn College of Public Affairs at The Ohio State University. In his words, the mission of the Glenn College is “to inspire citizenship and develop leadership” among the next generation of public servants.

He was driven to explore, to learn, and to give back. Upon announcing the donation of personal and Senate papers and other artifacts to The Ohio State University, he stated: “If there is one thing I’ve learned in my years on this planet, it’s that the happiest and most fulfilled people I’ve known are those who devoted themselves to something bigger and more profound than merely their own self-interest.”

He left this earth for the third time as a happy and fulfilled person.

We will dearly miss John Glenn. He left an indelible mark on the earth by slipping its bonds and returning to serve as a model of the consummate citizen and leader.

Details about arrangements are forthcoming.

Additional information about Senator Glenn is available at glenn.osu.edu/about/john-glenn.

If you would like to make a gift in honor of Senator Glenn, he requests donations be sent to the John Glenn College of Public Affairs.