Surdna Foundation enthusiastically reports that its Chairman Emeritus, John E. Andrus, III, grandson of the founder, celebrated his centennial birthday on September 19, 2009.  Exactly 100 years to the day after his birth, John marked the occasion with family and close friends at the Woodhill Country Club, near his home on Lake Minnetonka in Minnesota arranged by his 3 daughters.  What makes this milestone especially rewarding for us all is that John remains an active individual, still engaged in the interests and pursuits of his life.  John remains in vigorous good health and continues to participate in family and foundation endeavors, as well as his love of nature and art.

The centennial evening celebration included a dance performance and songs by his daughters with numerous touching and personal tributes from his 6 grandchildren and numerous friends and relatives.  Each tribute was a demonstration of affection and admiration, and acknowledgement of a man who lives an exemplary life with compassion and caring enough to touch the hearts and minds of so many. After blowing out the 3 digit candle of a centenarian, John, the always gracious and poised gentlemen thanked the assembled group and acknowledged his gratitude for the wonderful tributes and for attending his party.

John's grandfather was the founder of the Surdna Foundation in 1917.  But it is the grandson that the Foundation credits for the modern, professionalized Surdna Foundation beginning in the late 1980's.  A successful business man in his own regard, John conceived the idea of focusing the grant making power of the foundation into specific and targeted areas guided by a professional staff, and insisted on regular reviews of grants and grantee progress.  In 1989 the foundation hired its first Executive Director who worked with the board to devise an effective and collaborative grant program.  John is also credited with recruiting some very talented family members to be board members including a financial executive who served as Treasurer that set into motion the investment portfolio discipline and operational backbone that has held Surdna up so well over the years.

John Andrus, III grew up in Minneaplis, Minnesota.  He served proudly in the US Army and was a 1933 graduate of Wesleyan University. After majoring in English and English Literature at Wesleyan, John went on to the Minnesota School of Law.  Along side a successful life in business heading up the metal fabricator Deep Draw Corporation, John also led a long and involved career in philanthropy.  In addition to his dedication to the Surdna Foundation, John served as chairman of the board of the Nature Conservancy, chairman of the board of the Minnesota Institute of Art and was involved in numerous other nonprofit organizations. John joined the Surdna board in the 1969 and established himself as a voice of wisdom and reason.  He served Chair for many years and reached emeritus status in 1991.

So on the occasion of John's 100^th birthday, we all sincerely wish John many more years of productive philanthropy and quality living.