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SUNY Delhi Announces Naming of Brooks Family Welcome Center to Honor Alumni Legacy and Impact

The Brooks Family's Connection to SUNY Delhi Spans Over 80 Years

Delhi, NY (05/07/2026) — SUNY Delhi is proud to announce the naming of the Brooks Family Welcome Center in Alumni Hall in honor of the Brooks family, whose connection to the college spans more than 80 years. John Brooks, a 1967 SUNY Delhi graduate and former owner of the legendary Brooks' House of Bar-B-Q family restaurant in Oneonta, NY, is a longtime partner and generous supporter of Delhi's hospitality programs.

The announcement was made during the college's Hospitality Awards and Banquet on April 30, where students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends gathered to celebrate excellence in hospitality education and the Brooks family's impact.

"This gift, and the naming it represents, forever ties the remarkable Brooks family legacy to SUNY Delhi," said Dr. Mary Bonderoff, SUNY Delhi President. "Few families exemplify the spirit of loyalty, tradition, and impact quite like the Brooks family. Their influence will live on not only through this space, but through every student whose life is changed because you believed in them."

The Brooks family's multigenerational relationship with SUNY Delhi includes John Brooks' parents, Griffin Brooks '40 and Frances Brooks '41, and has continued across decades through eleven family members who have called SUNY Delhi home.

"We are proud and honored to have our name in the Alumni Hall at SUNY Delhi," John Brooks remarked. "Our family's education and direction all began here. We have many great memories here, and coming back is like coming home. SUNY Delhi has always held a special place in our hearts, and it gives us a good feeling to give back through scholarships."

Through their generosity, John and Joan Brooks have created transformative opportunities for students pursuing careers in hospitality through scholarships and industry connections. SUNY Delhi has previously recognized John Brooks with an Alumnus of Distinction award and an honorary doctorate in 2018.

Internationally respected leaders in the food and hospitality industry, members of the Brooks family have earned numerous honors, including a James Beard Award, recognition from food media organizations, and a New York State Senate Resolution celebrating their professional excellence.

The Brooks Family Welcome Center, located in Alumni Hall, represents both a celebration of this extraordinary history with SUNY Delhi and an investment in the future of hospitality education. The space will continue to evolve into a true Welcome Center serving as a gateway to the college's nationally recognized culinary and hospitality programs and a welcoming first impression for future students, alumni, and visitors.

Media Attachments

SUNY Delhi President Mary Bonderoff (center) with John Brooks '67 (left) and his wife Joan Brooks (right) on the SUNY Delhi campus after the naming of the Brooks Family Welcome Center in Alumni Hall.

John Brooks '67, SUNY Delhi President Mary Bonderoff, and Joan Brooks.

Left to right: John Brooks '67, SUNY Delhi President Mary Bonderoff, and Joan Brooks.

John Brooks '67 speaks at the naming of the Brooks Family Welcome Center in Alumni Hall at SUNY Delhi.

John Brooks '67 speaks at the naming of the Brooks Family Welcome Center in Alumni Hall at SUNY Delhi.

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