The campus chapel bears the name of William Egan.
Committed to an education in accordance with Jesuit tradition, Fairfield strives to instill, in all of its students, a strong sense of moral value. Fairfield alum William P. Egan, class of 1967, has personified these ideals by providing Fairfield with the resources necessary for continuing the Jesuit mission.
In 2000, Egan along with his wife, Jacayln, made a $6 million dollar donation to Fairfield, the single largest in the University’s history.
‘Investing in education is a gift that will eventually give back,’ said Egan. ‘The idea is that more students will be able to have a better education, which will hopefully result in more people willing to give back when it’s their turn to step up.’
After earning his MBA from University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business in 1969, which he attended immediately after graduating Fairfield, Egan was faced with a situation, similar to students today. In 1973, the oil crisis, due to the United State’s involvement with conflicts in the Middle East, coupled with the stock market crash of 1974, caused one of the greatest economic downturns to date, according to the National Institute Economic Review.
To combat this crisis Egan said he tried to find work doing something that interested him rather than holding out for jobs that paid the most.
‘You can find success anywhere, most of the time its luck, but its what you decide to do with that luck that causes you to be successful,’ said Egan. ‘That’s why I like the Jesuits. They don’t condemn success, rather they embrace it – they see it as a way to be able to help others.’
In 1969, Egan, along with partners, pioneered and founded the venture capital firm, TA Associates, currently ranked among the top 50 largest private equity firms globally, according to their Web site. In 1979 he then founded the firm Burr, Egan, Deleage, ‘amp; Co. (BEDCO) which funded many of the country’s largest technology and information companies, among which was the television provider, Cablevision.
Egan attributes much of his success to the education he received while at Fairfield, saying, ‘It is truly a unique school in that it educates you beyond just academics, it teaches you how to be a more well rounded person.’
Fairfield’s success as a University, according to Egan, lies within its foundation with the Jesuit’s. He commends University President Fr. Jeffrey von Arx for keeping their mission alive within the school.
Honoring his dedication to Fairfield, the University chapel bears his name commemorating the University’s own success at inspiring the lives of those they educate.
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