John “Jack” Edward Brady

Beloved husband, father, grandfather, and brother, John (“Jack”) Edward Brady, age 80, passed from this life surrounded by family on August 9, 2025 at The Ohio State University’s James Cancer Hospital.

Born on June 23, 1945 in Paulding County, Ohio, to parents Frank and Erma (née Linder), Jack was the oldest of three children. Raised on a family farm, he began helping his father drive tractors at age 7 and spent his youth fixing machinery and harvesting crops. After graduating from Blue Creek High School, Jack attended The Ohio State University where he was a proud “double” Buckeye graduate, earning a degree in accounting before transitioning to the OSU law school and graduating with a JD in 1970. During his time at Ohio State, Jack also lettered in fencing and was in ROTC.

Following graduation, Jack fulfilled his commitment to the United States Army and attained the rank of First Lieutenant before beginning his legal career.

Jack met his future wife, Cynthia Smalley, on a blind date in Defiance, Ohio, in 1967. On their first date, they danced the pony to the Monkees and twisted to Chubby Checker. They reconnected a month later during a chance encounter in front of the Paulding County library. Theirs was a love story for the ages that was truly meant to be. They were joined at the hip for 58 years (married for 56). Best friends… Lifelong partners… And the world’s best parents and grandparents.

The Bradys settled in Westerville, Ohio, where they raised a close-knit family of four children and a menagerie of pets. The family expanded to include in-laws and 10 grandchildren. Jack was a respected real estate attorney and partner at Porter, Wright, Morris & Arthur in Columbus, OH, for 45 years

Jack was a lifelong sports fan, especially of all things Buckeyes and Chicago Bears. He was also always interested in whatever anyone else in his family was watching (soccer, golf, the Olympics, racing, etc). Few knew he had a killer, undefendable hook shot that he perfected playing high school basketball for the Blue Creek Comets. He later played countless rounds of “horse” and 1-on-1 with his kids in the driveway. Jack also enjoyed (endured?) fifty years of dance recitals for three daughters and seven granddaughters.

So many gatherings saw Jack tending a smoking grill for an ever-growing family. No one could refuse a hearty Brady burger. In later years, he maintained a supervisory role as he passed this torch on to his son-in-law.

Jack was a meticulous perfectionist when focusing on contracts, taxes, and legal documents, both professional and personal, that saw him constantly returning to his classic yellow legal pads filled with illegible “lawyer” scribbling, to make sure the text was right and his clients or family members were getting the best deal. That same mentality translated to home upgrades and repairs, until practicality and pragmatism won out, and he just had to get the job done.

As a father, he’s remembered for walking up and down the hallway telling bedtime stories to the four kids who were sleeping in different bedrooms. “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” may not have been the best choice for children's bedtimes, but his sound effects were riveting and the kids adored it! He also provided nightly horsey back rides up the stairs to bed, played “steamroller,” and elicited squeals of laughter as he tightened “loose screws” in the kids’ backs… and eventually the backs of his grandkids.

Jack was always more than willing to don his worn, old Red Wing boots and get down and dirty on any project. He loved being outside slinging dirt, planting flowers and trees, pruning bushes, spreading mulch, hauling rocks and turning compost with Cynthia. They created and maintained a gorgeous garden that he adored spending time in throughout the years. He also found deep beauty in the grain of wood and enjoyed carving and building.

Jack loved music of all types, especially performers featured on the Bluegrass Ramble. He had a strong bass voice and enjoyed singing along with the Oak Ridge Boys’ “Elvira.” He may not have fully appreciated the Power Station and Bon Jovi concerts but attended anyway because he knew they were important to his daughters. He was also an action movie enthusiast who couldn’t pass up a good Bruce Willis one-liner or Steven Segal roundhouse kick.

Jack had a wonderful dry sense of humor and loved jokes, laughing, and puns. One of his favorites was “Would you like me to shed some light on the subject?” as he reached to turn on the lamp when kids were working on dimly lit homework. He was raised Catholic and converted to Lutheranism in adulthood, which made him laugh heartily at the stories of the townspeople of the fictional Lake Wobegon. At the end of most phone conversations with their children, Cynthia would say, “Jack, do you have anything to add?” He would always grin and reply, “Get to work!”

Despite his pragmatic disposition, Jack was in awe of the universe. He marveled at Carl Sagan’s “Cosmos”, Stephan Hawking’s “The Theory of Everything,” and Richard Feynman’s works. He enjoyed taking his kids to astronomy lectures for fun and discussing the larger ideas and possibilities that lay before humanity.

Above all, Jack Brady was a pillar of an extended family of more than twenty, whose lives were touched by his care, support, expertise, and fortitude in so many ways. He was always ready to put on those well-worn boots and help tear up carpet, mend a fence, build a swingset, lend a chainsaw, or provide valuable advice to anyone who needed it. In fact, he lived for those moments and was a driving force behind not only building and improving his own life, marriage, and home but also putting his energy and time into many more generations and houses. These homes would continue to grow and thrive thanks to the sweat and strength he freely provided over the years.

Jack Brady is survived by his wife Cynthia (Smalley) Brady; four children: Katherine Wodzisz of Mason, OH, Jennifer (Chris) Aultman of Westerville, OH, Michael (Bidisha) Brady of Pullman, WA, and Erin (David) Hahn of Westerville, OH, as well as 10 grandchildren and a great-granddaughter on the way. He is also survived by siblings Mary Pierczynski and James (Sharon) Brady, both of Carson City, NV, and many other beloved family members.

Jack was an old soul who lived life to the fullest, loved his family to his core, and was eager to embrace whatever the future would hold. He will be missed fiercely and remembered fondly.

Jack, Dad, Grandpa, Brother, Uncle, thank you for being part of our lives.

A Celebration of Life for Jack will take place on Friday, November 14, at 1:30 p.m. at the North Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 1574 Franklin St, Lewis Center, OH. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Cold Agglutinin Foundation, Inc. or to the Cancer Immunotherapy Research Fund at OSU’s James Cancer Hospital.