Charles Kimball Brush

Charles Kimball Brush, of Gold Canyon, Arizona, passed away on October 3, 2025. Born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Chuck was the oldest son of Charles and Mary Brush. His father’s career kept the family on the move, and he and his younger brothers, Bill and Dave, grew up in Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C., New York, Ohio, and Michigan.

From an early age, Chuck had an interest in science. He conducted his own experiments at home, some of which went hilariously awry, including a heart-stopping model rocket launch in the backyard. This passion for science took him to the University of Rochester, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry in 1966.

That was the beginning of a long and distinguished career in the field of organic chemistry. He went on to earn a Ph.D. in chemistry from Vanderbilt University and worked for companies ranging from industry giants such as GSK, Lilly, and Thermofisher to small startups. During his career, he was named as an inventor on more than 30 U.S. patents.

In 1968, while a graduate student at the University of Buffalo, Chuck met the love of his life, Jeanne Ann Dargay. He knew she was the one for him when, during a softball game, he hit a pop fly to the outfield and Jeanne Ann caught it for an out. They married in 1972 and eventually welcomed two daughters, Molly and Sarah. In the ensuing years, Chuck’s career took the family to Ohio, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Tennessee, and finally Wisconsin, where they settled in 1987.

A true Renaissance man, Chuck had wide-ranging interests and talents. His boundless intellectual curiosity made him an avid reader of all genres, with a special love of mysteries and detective stories. He played the New York Times’ Spelling Bee game every day and, as he never tired of reminding his family, he was always a Genius.

A lifelong sports fan, he loved watching football, basketball, baseball, and hockey, and he spent many hours cheering on Wisconsin and Michigan pro teams and Big 10 college teams. In his younger days, he was an enthusiastic rec league basketball and softball player.

Music was another one of Chuck’s passions, whether it was listening or playing. He enjoyed almost all genres (except musical theater), but having come of age in the 1960s, Chuck had a special place in his heart for good old rock ‘n’ roll. He even attended Woodstock, which he described as “cold, wet, and muddy.” He started playing the guitar as a teenager and kept up with it throughout his life. In his later years, he tried his hand at the piano and set up a home music studio to record his efforts.

Chuck also was a talented gardener who loved all things plants. He had an encyclopedic knowledge of horticulture that he gladly shared with anyone. Many of his happiest hours were spent with Jeanne Ann in their beautiful home gardens, caring for their vast collection of plants.

After Chuck’s retirement, he and Jeanne Ann became full-time residents of Arizona, where they embraced desert life. Retirement didn’t slow him down; on the contrary, he was busier than ever. He and Jeanne Ann became certified Master Gardeners and went on to share their expertise on cacti and succulents with students in the Pinal County Master Gardener Program. He was a member of the Central Arizona Cactus and Succulent Society and the Cactus and Succulent Society of America, and he and Jeanne Ann enjoyed going on plant-buying trips throughout the West with those groups. In addition, he and Jeanne Ann spent countless hours volunteering at Boyce Thompson Arboretum in Superior, Arizona, doing everything from plant propagation to working at the annual plant sale.

Chuck was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Bill. He is survived by his wife, Jeanne Ann, daughters Molly Brush and Sarah (Dan) Marcks, brother Dave (Gail) Brush, sister-in-law Lois Siler, many nieces and nephews, and countless treasured friends and colleagues. He was loved by many and will be deeply missed.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution in Chuck’s memory to Boyce Thompson Arboretum, Doctors Without Borders, or World Central Kitchen.