On Sunday September 28, a funeral service took place at the Oakland University Credit Union O’Rena for a man that meant so much to the Oakland University community — Glenn McIntosh.
“Mr. OU”, “Glenn Mac” and “Big Mac”, as friends called him, was the Senior Vice President for Students Affairs and Chief Diversity Officer who passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, Sept. 17 at the age of 62. He is remembered as a man of faith, a devoted husband, brother (in-law), uncle, father figure and friend to many. At OU, he spearheaded the initiatives that
The service was a sacred, joyous celebration of a life well-lived. With over 1500 people in attendance, remarks were made by McIntosh’s fraternity brothers from Omega Psi Phi Inc. and Sigma Phi Pi (Boule), OU President Ora Hirsch Pescovitz, Oakland County Executive David C. Coulter, Student Body President Marcus Johnson, McIntosh’s nephew Quontez McCroy, pastors and reverends of McIntosh’s church.
An Omega Service opened the evening, a ceremony transferring fraternity brothers into the next chapter of life. McIntosh was strong in his faith, and even served as a reverend. The two churches he was affiliated with — Little Rock Baptist Church and Renaissance Unity Church — were a part of the service. Mourners glanced through the beautiful purple pages of tributes given by family members.
McIntosh’s nephew, Quontez McCroy shared his deep gratitude for his uncle’s constant presence.
“I love you, thanks for making me into a man; thank you for everything you’ve ever done for me; I’m forever grateful for the impact you had in my life; I’m forever grateful for you, thank you for playing catch with me in the backyard; thank you for taking me to every one of my sports events growing up; thank you for supporting every dream I had; thank you for being there supporting me no matter the circumstances…thank you for being the only father figure I needed. I love you so much I can’t say thank you enough,” said McCroy.
Receiving his B.S. in Sociology/Business Administration from Central Michigan University in 1986 and then his M.A. in Mental Health Counseling from Wayne State University, he went on to dedicate over 40 years of his life to higher education. His professional life was defined by “…advocacy, equity, and empowerment,” as mentioned in the funeral booklet.
Students and faculty would often see McIntosh in the Oakland Center, donned in a tailor made suit, a gorgeous silk tie and a matching pocket square. His infectious smile could be seen from a mile away, always there to brighten someone’s day.
He was a man of discipline who serviced those around him and overcame any adversity that stood in his path. When he was bullied for being overweight as a child, years later he would train hard and become Mr. Michigan. When he lost his father, mother, brother and twin sister to heart-related conditions, he would donate and walk in Detroit Heart Walk every single year. McIntosh made sure everyone felt loved and important, often saying, “I love you, and there’s nothing you can do about it.”
“To have known Glenn is to have come in contact with a higher force, a force of good, a force for always doing the right thing, a force of compassion and understanding and a force who had a love of and for people, regardless of race, religion, age, nationality or viewpoint,” said President Pescovitz.
“Glenn was born in southwest Detroit in a rough neighborhood. Many of his childhood friends were dead from violence, or they were incarcerated…One would think that growing up in that environment would make a man angry and resentful, but not Glenn; Glenn had too much love in his heart. He was influenced by the love of incredible and remarkable women in his life. His mother, his aunt and you Lia. And in his quest for justice, he always said that he was determined to be an agent for positive change in his neighborhood and the broader community, and that’s exactly what he set out to do,” said President Pescovitz.
When I won my role as student body president, he was the first person to declare loudly, ‘Mr. President’, in only a way he could. He had manifested that I’d get the job well before I stepped into it. He always believed in me,” said Marcus Johnson, OU Student Body President.
“I first met Glenn when I was a student at OU, and he had just started in what is now the Center for Multicultural Initiatives (CMI). My most treasured memories of him are when I was here as staff, and I actually trained for a figure competition. He supported me and helped train me. My legs are still sore, and that was many many years ago, but my quads are still sore from training with him at the gym. But like everybody said here tonight, you could walk right into his office and he was the most attentive person around,” said Bridget Green, OU alumna, former CMI faculty member.
“Today, we come together, drawn by this compelling force of nature, a man of energy, faith and compassion, who taught us to have hope when there is despair, to demand justice when there is injustice, to lead when people need direction, and to step up when obligation knocks at the door,” said President Pescovitz.
“Glenn earned everything he had and by every standard, he was successful in everything he did. He had the midas touch, and did he ever prove himself again and again and again at every stage in his career. He earned his titles, and along the way, he had a reputation that was second to none.
“When I arrived at Oakland University more than eight years ago, it was important to me that we place a greater emphasis on all forms of Diversity and Inclusion at our university…Glenn would become my most treasured and valued colleague. So one day, shortly after I arrived, I called Glenn, and I told him, ‘Glenn…I think Oakland needs a chief diversity officer, and you’re the one for the job. So what do you think?’…Without hesitation, he would fully embrace the role, with all of its challenges , and yes, with its rewards too. And of course, just like everything that Glenn ever did, he excelled in the role, making us a leading institution in the state, in the region and in the nation,” said Pescovitz.
“To have known Glenn is to have come in contact with a higher force, a force of good, a force for always doing the right thing, a force of compassion and understanding and a force who had a love of and for people, regardless of race, religion, age, nationality or viewpoint,” said President Pescovitz.
How many of us and a few thought that Glenn was our best friend? And how many best friends can a man possibly have? Well…just look around this arena. That’s how many best friends Glenn had. Enough to fill this arena and many more.
“There were so many times that I saw rooms filled with people who were having negative discussions, and then Glenn would just walk in and transform the outlook into a campus of hope. How many people do you rush to because you’re just dying to talk to them? Or because they make you feel so good. Whenever you were with Glenn, he gave you his full and complete attention. And when you were with him, he made you feel as if you were the most capable, brilliant, stunning, talented, influential and the single most important person in the entire world.
Glenn lived according to the creed of living each day with passion, purpose and perseverance.
“Glenn was born in southwest Detroit in a rough neighborhood. Many of his childhood friends were dead from violence, or they were incarcerated…One would think that growing up in that environment would make a man angry and resentful, but not Glenn; Glenn had too much love in his heart. He was influenced by the love of incredible and remarkable women in his life. His mother, his aunt and you Lia. And in his quest for justice, he always said that he was determined to be an agent for positive change in his neighborhood and the broader community, and that’s exactly what he set out to do,” said President Pescovitz.
Glenn was an outstanding student in high school and in college at Central Michigan University, and although he had been a chubby child, he pursued body building and became an all around outstanding athlete, excelling in so many different athletic pursuits and over his lifetime, Glenn received numerous awards. When asked which one he valued most, he said, becoming Mr. Michigan, because the work involved reaching the goal that proved that all of us can transform ourselves spiritually, mentally and physically through dedication and hard work.
