St. Ignatius of Loyola Award for Distinguished Service

This award is given annually to a Brophy alumnus whose life and work exemplify a sustained commitment to the values of Jesuit education and the ways he personifies the Brophy Graduate after Graduation. The recipient of this award, like St. Ignatius, has earned the respect and admiration of the community because of the significant impact he has had on the lives of others, particularly those most vulnerable. Brophy is proud to announce that John Conley ’83 has been named the 2026 recipient of the St. Ignatius of Loyola Award for Distinguished Service.

For more than four decades, John Conley has built a career around bringing people together, using his passion for food and hospitality to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others. A celebrated Flagstaff restaurateur, philanthropist and former U.S. Forest Service smokejumper, John has demonstrated that a commitment to service can extend far beyond the doors of a restaurant.

Born and raised in Phoenix, John discovered his love for the restaurant business at age 13 while working at Katz Deli. At Brophy, he encountered the Jesuit ideal of Men for Others, a principle that would become central to his professional life. He also remembers Father Caligori, who taught his students Latin through song. Decades later, John can still sing the Gloria Patri, much to the amusement of his children.

After graduating from Brophy, John joined the U.S. Forest Service as a smokejumper, parachuting into remote wilderness areas to fight wildfires. He remembers being pushed to his physical and mental limits at a young age, an experience that instilled a “can do” approach and the belief that “there are no limits.” Those lessons provided a foundation for the challenges he would encounter throughout his career.

While studying hotel and restaurant management at Northern Arizona University, John opened his first restaurant during his senior year. That venture launched a career spanning more than 40 years, including four decades operating Salsa Brava and the opening of seven additional restaurants. His establishments became fixtures of the Flagstaff community, creating gathering places where families celebrated milestones and generations of employees began their careers. More than 1,000 people worked at Salsa Brava throughout its history.

For John, however, the restaurant business has always been about more than serving food. He has made it a priority for his restaurants to put the community first, a philosophy rooted in the Jesuit ideal of Men for Others. As John explains, “The quickest path to gratitude is to be of service to others.” His commitment has helped generate more than $3 million in contributions to local nonprofits and charitable organizations. In 2026, Flagstaff recognized that enduring dedication by naming him its Citizen of the Year.

Perhaps John’s most personal expression of service is Adam’s Cabin, a nonprofit he established with his wife, Genevieve, to create greater independence and opportunity for young adults with developmental disabilities. Together, they helped establish one of Flagstaff’s first privately funded independent living homes for young adults with developmental disabilities, offering residents an opportunity to build friendships and experience greater independence.

John’s generosity also extends well beyond northern Arizona. As a member of the Messlords, a group of four chefs who prepare meals for American military personnel stationed around the world, he has traveled to 22 countries and 42 military bases. His culinary talents have earned national recognition as a five-time winner of Guy’s Grocery Games, while helping raise more than $300,000 for Special Olympics.

John and Genevieve, who met when he hired her early in his restaurant career, have been married for 34 years and raised three children: Sage, Adam and Ivan.

Through his restaurants, charitable initiatives and personal commitment to serving others, John has demonstrated that success is measured not simply by professional accomplishments, but by the difference one makes in the lives of others. His career reflects the belief that hospitality can be a powerful expression of generosity and community.

Brophy College Preparatory proudly honors John Conley ’83 as the 2026 recipient of the St. Ignatius of Loyola Award for Distinguished Service, recognizing a life devoted to strengthening communities and extending care to those who need it most.