February 13, 2017

SVSU President Bachand offers statement on the passing of Ted Braun

Hugo E. “Ted” Braun of Saginaw passed away Wednesday, Feb. 8 at age 84. Saginaw Valley State University President Donald Bachand offered these thoughts:

“We at SVSU mourn the passing of one of our most loyal and committed friends, and one of the Saginaw community’s finest ambassadors, Ted Braun. We extend our deepest sympathies to his wife, Ruth, and their children and family.

“Ted’s rich and lasting legacy is evident throughout our university, and it is inseparable from that of his wife and partner of 62 years. Individually and collectively, he and Ruth have been deeply committed servant leaders, and we at SVSU will be forever fortunate that they chose to devote themselves to advancing our institution.

“Ted served on the SVSU Board of Control for eight years (1981-89) and was succeeded by Ruth, who served for 16 years (1991-2007). For nearly half of our university’s history, a Braun shaped the most important decisions we made.

“Ted and Ruth have shown extraordinary support for SVSU and the greater Saginaw community through their advocacy, their philanthropy, and their humble but steadfast resolve to work for the greater good. The Braun Fellowship, which provides financial support to SVSU faculty and staff for scholarly endeavors, and the Braun Writing Awards, which honor SVSU students for exemplary writing, are two shining examples of how they empower people within our university community.

“Ted also served many years as president of the board for the Harvey Randall Wickes Foundation, which long has been among SVSU’s chief benefactors, providing funding for three endowed chairs and numerous campus building projects.

“On behalf of SVSU, I extend our condolences to Ted’s family and friends, and I express our gratitude for the innumerable ways in which Ted has enriched our institution and those whom we serve.”