John Stephen Brill, 78, of Morrow, passed away on Monday, September 1, 2025 at Heritage Springs of West Chester. Born on September 26, 1946 to Richard and Marie-Louise (nee: Joseph) Brill in New York City, NY.

John grew up in Pleasantville, NY, and graduated from Pleasantville High School in 1964. He then studied at Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana, and earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science in 1968. He then studied at the Wharton School of Business.

Following this, John served in the US Navy from 1968 to 1974, and was stationed at Naval Headquarters in Saigon for a year during the Vietnam War.

After completing his service in the navy John, along with Earlham College friends Bill Bryon and David Bolling, bought and published The News Herald, a weekly newspaper in Santa Rosa, California, and also started publishing Sonoma Business quarterly magazine. He was married to Sandra Gaynier in Santa Rosa in 1979, and their son, Justin, was born there in 1983.

After selling the News Herald and Sonoma Business magazine to Lesher Communications in 1983, John continued to work in the newspaper business in management and advertising sales in Northern California, Southern California, Maine, Ohio, and Texas. Soon after retirement in Texas, John moved with his wife back to Ohio, where he was living for the past five years.

Involved in Rotary since early post college days, John was up until recently an enthusiastic participating member of the Mason-Deerfield Rotary Club. He also was a devoted member of the fraternal organization the Rosicrucian Order, AMORC, and served in many capacities, including that of Master, at the Elbert Hubbard Chapter in Fairborn.

John loved telling jokes and making puns. He was an avid reader and bird watcher, and enjoyed walking and talking with neighbors at Aberlin Springs where he most recently resided. He loved life and people, and was loved by many. He will be greatly missed.

Preceded in death by his parents, he is survived by his wife, Sandra (nee: Gaynier) Brill, one son, Justin Brill of Portland, ME, one sister, Kathy Brill of Naples, FL, his aunt Kay Joseph of Lexington, MA, and his cousins, Laurel (Michael) Swan, Louise (Mary Donnelly) Brill and Fred (Teresa) Joseph, II, and Diana (Bernard) Peloux.

He is also survived by members of his wife's loving family: brothers-in-law Richard Gaynier, Ken Gaynier, Sr., Gary (Nancy) Gaynier, sister-in-law Sharon (John) Holt, and their families.

A Celebration of John's Life will be held on Saturday, October 4, 2025, from 2-4 PM, at Aberlin Springs Visitors Center in Morrow. Arrangements made by the Oswald-Hoskins Funeral Home, Lebanon.