Jon Oscher, a valued friend of Reinhardt University, passed away on February 19, 2026, at the age of 93. He was born in the Bronx, New York, moved to Chatsworth, Georgia, as a child, and attended Tennessee Military Academy before graduating from Georgia Tech.
In addition to spending 32 years as a successful pioneer in the cable television industry, Oscher’s real passion in life was philanthropy. He generously gave back to the communities that gave so much to his family. His family foundation will continue his legacy.
Oscher’s enthusiasm for education, arts, and culture lives on in his vision and founding of the Bartow History Museum, Booth Western Art Museum, Savoy Automobile Museum and Tellus Science Museum in Cartersville.
“I consider one of the greatest honors of my life to have met and known Jon Oscher,” stated Reinhardt President Mark Roberts, Ph.D. “At least once a year, I visited with Jon. Not in his office but at one of the museums he built. I was always awed by his wide-ranging interests and his deep appreciation of constructive human endeavors– from painting to the design of cars. (One year, he allowed me to sign my name next to Jay Leno’s inside the conference room of the Savoy. I was overjoyed!) Jon Oscher had a love of the pursuit of knowledge. Through this passion, he offered gifts to people, places, and organizations that honored that same pursuit. Most importantly, Jon did so with a true heart of philanthropy. It is because of his heart of giving that select Reinhardt students earn the Stronger Together Scholarship. (Famously, Jon offered gifts anonymously.) As his grandson so eloquently shared at his Celebration of Life, Jon Oscher’s gift-giving was never transactional. Indeed, Jon’s gifts were transformational… and still are because he gave to enduring causes that benefited his community.”
The community celebrated Jon Oscher’s life on March 2, at the Booth Western Art Museum.
