Alumni story: Jim and Beth Brasch `76

Name: Jim and Beth (Arnold) Brasch

Gonzaga Prep class of 1976, Gonzaga University, UW School of Medicine 

First co-ed graduating class, parents of alumni, current and former board chairs, capital campaign chairs

It wasn’t until after Jim Brasch `76 had graduated from Gonzaga Prep and Gonzaga University, finished medical school, and was a doctor out in the Spokane community that he fully understood how exceptional his Prep education had been.

“It never occurred to me that my thought process was any different than anyone else's,” he said. The intentionality and purpose instilled in him at Prep were not explicit, but they set the foundation for a life of service. “That’s where the seeds are planted,” he said. And the ground is more fertile when you’re 14 or 15 years old. For the Jesuits who taught Brasch, it was truly how they lived their lives.

This formation begins by helping students know themselves and recognize their gifts so that they can begin to discern how best to use those gifts for others. “That's how you prepare for life’s responsibilities—whether it's marriage, family, or vocation."

Beth (Arnold) Brasch `76 , Jim’s wife, echoed his words. “Education isn’t just about what you know; it’s about why you know it and what you’ll do with it,” she said. Now retired, the Braschs have long been connected to the school that had such a profound impact on their lives. They have served on the School Board, as capital campaign chairs, and were Hall of Fame inductees in 2016. Catholic education is foundational for them.

Classmates at St. Thomas More Catholic School before high school, both appreciate the sacrifices their parents made to provide them with a Catholic education. Beth attended Holy Names Academy until the end of her junior year when the school closed. That fall, Gonzaga Prep made the landmark decision to become co-educational, admitting more than 300 young women. Beth remembers the chaotic early days—crowded hallways and three students to a locker—but by the second semester, life as co-ed Bullpups had settled into a new rhythm.

Since graduating all those years ago, the Braschs have continued to share a deep belief in Gonzaga Prep’s mission to form the whole person—intellectually, spiritually, and morally. For them, education is key to building a better world, and Gonzaga Prep serves as a beacon for that mission.

“When it became obvious that we would be blessed in this life, the question became, ‘What are we going to do with this gift?’” Jim said. “Aside from providing a stable environment for our family, we knew we needed to give back.”

For the Braschs, supporting education, particularly Gonzaga Prep, became a calling. All three of their kids are Prep alumni and agree that their Prep education made them more prepared for the life they are leading now.

The Braschs also value the way the Prep community shows up for one another. “You don’t have to be a parent to be there at a football or basketball game. Sometimes people just come because they care. And when something happens in your family, like the loss of a loved one, that support is always there. We’ve been to so many funerals for Prep alumni and parents, and this community presence is a constant, welcome comfort.”

For the Braschs, this enduring support and commitment to forming the whole person are what make Gonzaga Prep a transformative place for generations of students and families.