The Butze Foundation was established to honor Jacob’s legacy of charity, faith, and education. Initially, the Butze family and supporters created a scholarship at St. Edward High School. Within a year, the Foundation expanded its mission to help college students afford higher education and support local charities, aiming to ease students’ financial burdens while giving back to the community.
Jacob Butze, raised in Shaker Heights, OH, was an athlete, musician, and devoted friend known for his empathy and determination. Diagnosed with leukemia as a college freshman, Jacob faced his illness with courage, living by the motto “Never Ever Give Up” (NEGU). He inspired others to show empathy rather than sympathy. Jacob passed away in December 2020, but his lasting positive influence continues.
Jack ReardonJack and Jacob became friends in 2014 when they started cross-country and their freshman year at St. Edward High School, bonding over academics and social life. Their friendship continued through college, with Jack attending Ohio State University and later pursuing a PhD in Chemical Engineering at UC Berkeley. Jack and his family have been strong supporters of the Jacob Butze Memorial Run, where Jack joined the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP). In October, he was contacted as a match for a cancer patient in need of a bone marrow transplant. Jack recalled, “I didn’t even remember signing up, but I was excited to help.” The donation process was simple and non-invasive, involving a blood draw and a five-hour procedure in San Diego. Jack explained his motivation: “Cancer sucks, leukemia sucks, Jacob was an incredible friend. Through him, I’m saving a life.”
Mae NaguskyMae, who knew Jacob through family, was deeply affected by his passing and admired his influence on the community, despite not knowing him well. A memorable encounter while running highlighted Jacob’s kindness. As an audio journalism grad student, Mae decided to create a podcast about Jacob, interviewing his friends and family over a year. Through these conversations, she discovered recurring themes of empathy, passion, and action in his life. Stories—like his humor with his sister, encouragement of his cousin, and adventures abroad—stood out. Creating the podcast helped Mae process her grief and understand Jacob’s enduring impact.
Bernie GreenbergBernie Greenberg, age 90, passed away in August 2025. Bernie was grandfather to Jacob’s friend and youth hockey teammate, Ben Greenberg. From hockey road trips to Ann Arbor, to countless practices and dinners, Bernie and Jacob forged a lifelong bond. Even with declining health, Bernie made sure he supported the Butze Foundation in every way he could. He will be missed by all he knew.
Marilyn SommerfeldMarilyn Sommerfeld, age 78, passed away from cancer three weeks before the 2025 JBMF Run. Aunt Marilyn was Jacob’s fraternal great-aunt. She was diagnosed with Autoimmunoblastic T-cell Lymphoma (AIT-L) in 2021. When she gained strength and went into remission, Aunt Marilyn attended the 2nd Annual JBMF Run. She walked the mile, demonstrating the true grit for which she and Jacob were known. Shortly before this year’s run, Marilyn experienced a cancer relapse, this time with Myelodysplastic Syndrome. With gratitude, humor, faith, and love, she said goodbye to her loved ones.
The 5th Annual Butze Foundation 5K Run, an event dedicated to advancing Jacob Butze’s legacy of charity, education, and community support, is Sunday, June 14th, 2026. We invite you—both as individuals and as part of our valued corporate community—to become an event sponsor and help us make a lasting impact.
Your sponsorship will directly support scholarships for students and contributions to local charities, allowing us to continue Jacob’s mission of making education accessible and giving back to those in need.
Sponsorship opportunities include:
We hope you’ll join us as a sponsor for this meaningful event. Together, we can carry forward Jacob’s spirit of generosity and hope.