Remembering John Hose
December 2, 2022
Dear Brandeis Faculty and Staff,
We are saddened by the loss of long-time Brandeis staff member John Hose, who passed away on Wednesday, November 23, 2022, at his home in Waltham. A cherished member of the Brandeis family who is remembered for his vast institutional memory and commanding baritone voice, John served for 30 years as a close advisor to four of the university's nine presidents before his 2013 retirement.
Services will be held on campus on Saturday, December 17, at 11 a.m. in Sherman Function Hall, in Hassenfeld Conference Center.
Known as 'the voice of Brandeis' for his role as master of ceremonies at the university's commencement exercises, John was beloved for his kindness, and deeply respected for his intellect and impartiality. For these reasons, many students, faculty, and staff alike sought his counsel over the course of his career.
As executive assistant to the president and associate vice president for university affairs, John was instrumental in helping to guide the operations of the Office of the President, while also providing valuable administrative support to the Board of Trustees.
Above all, he was deeply committed to providing an excellent educational experience for our students. He administered several of the university's awards programs, including the Mortimer Hays-Brandeis Traveling Fellowship, the Joseph B. & Toby Gittler Prize, and the Richman Distinguished Fellow in Public Life; he was a general academic advisor for undergraduates; a consultant on issues of academic presentation and protocol; and a member of the Rhodes, Marshall, and Fulbright Committees.
John was also Brandeis' representative to the Board of Governors of the University Press of New England, where he served as chair from 1994 to 1998.
Prior to his time at Brandeis, John was an assistant dean at Queens College/City University of New York and executive assistant to the president at the University of New Hampshire. He earned his bachelor of arts from Middlebury College, and his doctorate from Columbia University in Modern European and West African history.
John is survived by his children John ’96 (Max Fulton) and Jessica ’00 (Thomas Witt), both proud Brandeis graduates; grandchildren Elsie and Heidi Witt and Henry Hose; former wife, Janet Rice-Hose; sister Judy Kiss; and nephews David Hose and Gordon Chupko.
Members of the Brandeis community are encouraged to share memories and words of sympathy in the online guestbook. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests making a gift to Brandeis in John's memory.
Please join us in extending our sympathies to John's family and friends, as well as colleagues at Brandeis and in the community. He will be deeply missed by many.
Sincerely,
Ron Liebowitz