Jeanette Grasselli Brown

Dr. Jeanette Grasselli Brown, an esteemed analytical chemist, pioneer in vibrational spectroscopy and prominent Cleveland philanthropist, passed away peacefully while surrounded by friends and family on July 15, 2025, at the age of 96.

She was born Jeanette Gecsy on August 4, 1928, to Hungarian immigrants Nicholas and Vera Gecsy in the Buckeye Road neighborhood of Cleveland. Despite growing up during the Great Depression, she spoke fondly of her childhood alongside her beloved younger brother, Robert.

Jenny was an indomitable force of nature. The first person in her family to pursue formal education beyond eighth grade, Jenny received a scholarship to Ohio University, graduating with her B.S. in Chemistry in 1950. Jenny thrived at OU as a proud Bobcat and member of Phi Beta Kappa and remained a strong supporter of OU throughout her life. She later received her M.S. in Chemistry at Case Western Reserve University as well as 13 honorary doctorates from around the world.

Jenny joined The Standard Oil Company (now BP America) in 1950, building a groundbreaking career over the next four decades. She rose from the laboratory bench to become the Director of Corporate Research, Analytical and Environmental Sciences, the only woman at the director level at the time of her appointment. Her professional work advanced infrared and Raman spectroscopy and led to the development of methods that improved gasoline quality, polymer analysis, and environmental monitoring. She was a tireless champion for women, using each of her corporate advancements to negotiate for equal pay and opportunities for her staff. She stayed in regular contact with her SOHIO friends (who became dear family) until her death.

A lifelong mentor and advocate for women and minorities in STEM, Jenny served as President of the Society for Applied Spectroscopy and edited the journal Vibrational Spectroscopy. Following “retirement” (because the only time Jenny sat still was when she had her toes in the sand on a tropical beach), she dedicated herself to education and civic service - chairing the Ohio Board of Regents, founding the Cleveland Water Alliance, and serving on numerous non-profit boards including the Great Lakes Science Center, Ideastream, Friends of EPrep (Breakthrough Schools), Cleveland Scholarship Program (now College Now Greater Cleveland), One Community (now Digital C), the Cleveland Hungarian Cultural Garden, the Cleveland Clinic, and the Musical Arts Association of the Cleveland Orchestra.

She served on the board of six corporations including USX (US Steel and Marathon Oil), BF Goodrich, AGA Gas, BDM International, Nicolet Instruments, and McDonald & Co. She also served the U.S. Government on committees for the U.S. Department of Energy, the National Research Council, National Science Foundation, National Institute of Standards and Technology, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

Jenny’s professional achievements and awards are too numerous to list, as a quick Google search or peek at her Wikipedia page will demonstrate. They include 90+ publications, nine books, and roughly 1,000 presentations and lectures to students, scientific conferences, and the general public around the world. Award highlights include the President’s Medal of Merit (Hungary), the Ellis Island National Medal of Honor, and the Cleveland Heritage Medal. She received the Garvan Medal as the outstanding woman chemist in the United States from the American Chemical Society, was the first woman inducted into the Ohio Science and Technology Hall of Fame, and is in the Ohio Women’s Hall of Fame.

Jenny’s personal life was equally rich. She married twice – first to Robert Grasselli in 1957, and then to lifelong friend and coworker Glenn R. Brown in 1987. Glenn and Jenny were utterly and entirely devoted to each other. Glenn delighted in sharing stories of Jenny’s accomplishments and successes at every opportunity, and presented her with a dozen red roses every week of their marriage until his death in 2021. Together, they traveled to over 100 countries and attended countless music, dance, and theater events around the world. They were fixtures in the Cleveland social scene and were an unmissable pair - Glenn towering over the crowds and Jenny sparkling in bright colors. Through this marriage Jenny expanded her family with Glenn’s children Robyn Boebinger (John) and Eric Brown, and eventually grandchildren Carolyn Odom, Charles Boebinger, and Michael Boebinger.

Dr. Jeanette Grasselli Brown’s legacy is one of scientific brilliance, trailblazing leadership, and unwavering generosity. She reshaped the landscape of industrial chemistry, empowered countless women, and enriched her community with vision and compassion. She will be deeply missed by her family, friends, colleagues, and the generations she inspired. She said it best herself, in a handwritten note found on her desk shortly after her passing: “The driving force in my life has been to help others. I believe we have a responsibility to give back when we have had so much. I was blessed with an outstanding education and with opportunities to become whatever I wanted. I am now devoted to providing the same to others - giving back is a responsibility and adds meaning to life.”

Those who wish may make contributions in her memory to The Cleveland Orchestra or to a charity of their choice. A celebration of Jenny’s life will be held at a date and time to be determined. Interment will be private in Evergreen Cemetery, Chagrin Falls, OH.