In Memoriam: Howard “Skip” Brush
Howard Walter “Skip” Brush, 82, a longtime Middlebury College employee and a member of the 25-Year Club, died at his home in Middlebury on October 2. Throughout his nearly three decades of employment at Middlebury, Brush served in a variety of roles including director of purchasing, purchasing agent, manager of office moves and furniture distribution, and manager of the College’s rental vehicle fleet.
Brush arrived at the College in 1980 and brought his signature customer service approach to everything he did, whether it was finding the right office chair for an employee, selecting vehicles for purchase, or procuring a commemorative plaque.
A 1959 Middlebury Union High School graduate, he earned an Associate’s Degree in architectural engineering from the Wentworth Institute in Boston in 1961. From 1963 to 1969, he served in the Vermont Air National Guard, then joined the family business, Brush Motors, in Middlebury, until its sale in 1979. Skip then joined Middlebury College and stayed until his retirement in 2008.
Brush’s interest in everything automobiles served him well in his role at Middlebury. Longtime friend and Associate Vice President for Operations Norm Cushman said, “Whenever there was a mechanical issue with the College’s vehicle fleet, regardless of the location, day, or time, Skip would always cheerfully assist those in need to get the vehicle repaired, find alternative transportation, and get the occupants back on the road to their destination.”
In addition to his contributions to the College, Brush spent considerable time giving back to the community. He served on the Board of Directors of the Addison County Chamber of Commerce and was a member of the Middlebury Rotary Club. He also served on the Mary Hogan School Board and worked with Middlebury’s Planning Commission and Design Review Board, including as a member of Middlebury’s Bridge Committee.
He was active in Middlebury youth sports, and was a recipient of the Robert E. Collins recreation award. He helped coach, organize, and raise funds for hockey, baseball, football, and lacrosse. In his honor, the Middlebury Amateur Hockey Association named their annual spring tournament the “Skip Brush Hockey Classic.”
Brush is survived by his wife of 58 years, Cynthia; son Chris Brush and his wife, Kim, of Greenwich, Connecticut, and their children, Kate and Ryan; son Matt Brush and his wife, Hannah, of Leicester, and their children, Carlisle and Channing; his sister Carole B. Cummings, and her husband, Michael, of Ripton; and sister-in-law Jeanette Brush of Salisbury.
A funeral mass will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, October 20, at The Church of the Assumption in Middlebury with a reception following the service. The family suggests memorial contributions can be made to the Friends of Middlebury Hockey, P.O. Box 835, Middlebury VT, 05753.