Villanova University Receives Bequest of $11+ Million from Bernard John Lucci
College of Professional Studies receives $5 million to support lifelong learning
Gift will also fund endowed chair in College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and support the new Falvey Library at Vic Maggitti Hall
VILLANOVA, Pa. (September 23, 2024) — Villanova University has received an estate gift of more than $11 million from the late Bernard John Lucci. The gift will fund opportunities for lifelong learning through the College of Professional Studies (CPS), endow a chair in Italian Studies in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) and support the new Falvey Library at Vic Maggitti Hall—designations chosen in honor of Mr. Lucci’s personal connection to Villanova.
Mr. Lucci began taking classes at Villanova in 2005 through CPS’ Senior Citizen Personal Enrichment Program, which offers lifelong learning opportunities for those seeking personal and intellectual growth. Mr. Lucci would go on to take 10 Italian culture and language courses at the University from 2005-2012, inspired by his family, who emigrated from northern Italy. Most recently, Mr. Lucci resided in Jeffersonville, Pa. He passed away in 2023 at the age of 86.
“We are deeply grateful for Mr. Lucci’s gift and honored by his belief in the power of the Villanova experience,” said the Rev. Peter M. Donohue, OSA, PhD, University President. “Mr. Lucci’s restless pursuit of knowledge and humble generosity stand as a remarkable example to us all.”
From Mr. Lucci’s total bequest, $5 million will go to the College of Professional Studies—the largest gift in the College’s history. In recognition of the gift and Mr. Lucci’s connection to Villanova as a CPS student, the program he participated in will be named in his honor: the Bernard John Lucci Senior Citizen Personal Enrichment Program. An endowed fund will also be created to support the College's growth and strategic priorities, including the expansion of the personal enrichment program and additional non-degree learning opportunities—strengthening CPS’s role as a leader in serving non-traditional and adult learners.
Mr. Lucci’s bequest will also establish the Bernard John Lucci Endowed Chair in Italian Studies within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. This position will further enhance the College’s dedication to cultural and historical studies with a special focus on Italian culture and heritage, an area of personal importance to Mr. Lucci. Timothy McCall, PhD, professor of Art History, director of the Art History program, and internationally recognized scholar of the Italian Renaissance, has been appointed as the inaugural Lucci Chair.
The final area the bequest will impact is the new Falvey Library at Vic Maggitti Hall, where a dedicated space—the Bernard John Lucci Doctoral and Graduate Office Suite—will bear Mr. Lucci’s name. This space will serve as a central hub for graduate and doctoral students, fostering collaboration and academic inquiry.
“As an Augustinian Catholic university, Villanova is dedicated to fostering intellectual curiosity and a commitment to lifelong learning among its students, ideals personified by Mr. Lucci,” said Patrick G. Maggitti, PhD. “His generous bequest will have a broad impact on our community, enhancing the academic experiences of countless undergraduate, graduate and personal enrichment students.”
About Villanova University: Since 1842, Villanova University’s Augustinian Catholic intellectual tradition has been the cornerstone of an academic community in which students learn to think critically, act compassionately and succeed while serving others. There are more than 10,000 undergraduate, graduate and law students in the University's six colleges—the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the Villanova School of Business, the College of Engineering, the M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing, the College of Professional Studies and the Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law. Ranked among the nation’s top universities, Villanova supports its students’ intellectual growth and prepares them to become ethical leaders who create positive change everywhere life takes them. For more, visit www.villanova.edu.