The General Commission on United Methodist Men’s (GCUMM) posted on its Website this week a memorial tribute to Ross Brightwell, former president of the Eastern PA Conference UM Men from 2007 to 2015. Brightwell, 69, died from illness March 27. He was a prominent layman in the conference who organized numerous annual gatherings–from men’s softball tournaments to United Methodist Day at Philadelphia Phillies and 76ers games and at the Philadelphia Zoo and Dorney Park. His goals always were to bring public visibility to his denomination, stimulate fellowship among its members and raise funds for UM Men. He also led the men in distributing at Annual Conference each year bags of gleaned potatoes donated for the poor by the Society of St. Andrew.

The GCUMM tribute honors Brightwell, a former vice president of the Northeastern Jurisdiction of UM Men, for his leadership in the National Association of Conference UMM Presidents and his support for his beloved alma mater, Indiana University of Pennsylvania’s, marching band.

The Eastern PA Conference UM Men plans to honor its former president with scholarships to help children and youth from low-income families and troubled neighborhoods participate in Carson-Simpson Farm’s summer camp and “Peace Ministries” program for older youth.