https://foodscience.ucdavis.edu/people/john-bruhn#/
Dr. John C. Bruhn passed away on Saturday December 18th, 2021, surrounded by his loving family. John was born in Ohio on August 23, 1940; he was 81 years old.
John received a B.S. in food science in 1962 from Michigan State University and completed a Ph.D. in Microbiology with emphasis in dairy bacteriology and biochemistry from UC Davis in 1969. He began a 37-year career (1969-2006) as a Specialist in Cooperative Extension in Dairy Foods in the Department of Food Science and Technology at UC Davis after graduation.
John led a distinguished career in applied research and education and was known for his exceptional national and international leadership in dairy foods education. He also helped to develop and implement state and national regulatory dairy foods policy and worked with many well-known brands in California and nationally on food safety and quality issues. John directed and managed problem-solving and basic dairy-related research. John was instrumental in establishing the Dairy Research and Information Center at UC Davis in 1995 and he served as its founding director from 1995 to 2008.
John was an active member in many California and national dairy and food related associations. His dedication to the dairy industry was recognized by awards and recognitions from the American Dairy Science Association, the California Association of Dairy and Milk Sanitarians, The International Association for Food Protection, and the Institute of Food Technologists. He was presented with the “Outstanding Faculty” Award of Distinction by the UC Davis College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences in 2009.
The John C. Bruhn Dairy Foods Scholarship was established and endowed upon John’s retirement with gifts from industry organizations including the California Association of Dairy Milk Sanitarians, the California Creamery Operators Association, the California Dairy Industries Association, and from the Bruhn family. The award is given to an undergraduate or Master’s student with an interest in dairy foods, and often includes a framed original University of California University Farm butter wrapper. During award presentations, John would point out the words “First Quality” on the wrapper – something he believed the award recipient, the food science department, and UC Davis represented.
John loved to travel, enjoyed the arts and history, and was devoted to family. John is survived by his wife of 51 years, Christine, who also a Cooperative Extension Specialist Emeritus member of the Department of Food Science and Technology, their daughter Laura (Roland) Freudrich and son Aron (Ashley) Bruhn and grandchildren Patrick and Peter Freudrich, and Hudson and Skyler Bruhn.
Last year, John and Christine were interviewed by Dave Weinstein at Eichler Network/CA Modern about their reminiscences of building and living in their Streng home in Davis, where they had lived for almost 50 years. Food Science and Technology also noted their 50th wedding anniversary in 2020, in the article “A Marriage made in Food Science and Technology: The Bruhn’s celebrate their 50th Anniversary.” You can also read a profile on a very young John entitled "Milkman John Bruhn", from Western Milk and Ice Cream News, April 1971.
Memorial gifts may be made to the John C. Bruhn Dairy Food Scholarship.