RIT mourns the loss of Trustee Emeritus Jay Holmes

RIT Trustee Emeritus Jay Holmes died Nov. 28. He was 83.

Holmes joined RIT’s Board of Trustees in 1992 and served for nearly three decades before being named trustee emeritus in 2019. During his time on the board, he chaired several committees, including Enrollment Management and Career Services Core Committee, and contributed to RIT’s global expansion through roles on the Global Strategy Task Force and Global Delivery Corp.

A respected business leader, Holmes retired as executive vice president and chief administrative officer at Bausch & Lomb. He and his wife, Teresa, remained engaged with RIT after his emeritus appointment, hosting trustees during the 2023 board meeting and retreat in Key Largo, Fla. They have contributed to many important university initiatives through their philanthropy, including the Holmes Family Endowed Scholarship, which has supported RIT students from Rochester for over 20 years.

“Jay Holmes was a trusted adviser and a passionate advocate for the university,” said RIT Board of Trustees Chair Susan Puglia. “His intelligence, kindness, leadership, and generosity were brought to our board meetings and they also helped shape the university. We are deeply grateful for his service and friendship. He will be missed.”

Details on a Celebration of Life will be shared when available.