Roy T. Brophy

BROPHY, Roy T.
Oct. 12, 1921 - Apr. 14, 2009

Born in Morgan Hill, Calif., to Maragret A. Byers and John H. Brophy, Roy is survived by his wife of 30 years, Rebecca, and three of his six children from a previous marriage, Heather Brophy-Sellens (Michael), Brandon, and Brett (Marianne), and six grandchildren. The three children who preceded him in death were Sean, Meghan, and Stephan.

A native Californian, Roy proudly served his country in WWII as a naval lieutenant on the U.S.S. Boggs in the South Pacific for the duration of War II. He received his B.A. degree from San Jose State in 1946 and formed a real estate partnership with the Gannon Organization in the early 1950s. Gannon-Brophy successfully developed thousands of homes and businesses in the greater Sacramento area. His own development success as Roy T. Brophy and Associates was honored by induction into the California Building Industry Hall of Fame in 1989. Roy was the only person in the history of California to have served on the governing boards of all three branches of the California institutions of higher learning: the California Community College Board of Governors; the California State University System Board of Trustees; and the University of California Board of Regents. He received national recognition in 1998 when he was honored as the outstanding Trustee in the United States for his service to the Public College and University Systems in California by the National Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges. A confidant of industry leaders, academicians, legislators, governors and Presidents, Roy was respected by all who appreciated his energy, honesty, and willingness to share his opinions. He especially enjoyed counseling with students and young people and when asked about how to achieve success, his words to them were to, ''Plan your work and work your plan.'' An avid yachtsman, Roy enjoyed piloting his boat around San Francisco Bay, Vancouver Island, and the San Juans.

Friends and colleagues will have an opportunity to celebrate his life and accomplishments in Sacramento at the Suffer Club, 1220 Ninth Street on April 24 at 4:00 p.m. The Sutter Club requires coats and ties for gentlemen and appropriate attire for ladies. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Roy's memory to the U.C Davis Alzheimer's Research Center.