William F. Connell
William F. Connell (1938–2001) was an American industrialist and philanthropist who served as chairman and chief executive officer of Connell Limited Partnership.
Early life[edit]
Connell was born in Lynn, Massachusetts to William and Theresa Connell, both immigrants from Ireland.[1][2] He graduated from St. Mary's High School, Boston College (BA 1959), and Harvard Business School (MBA 1963) and served in the United States Army.[1][2][3][4]
Business career[edit]
Connell worked for Litton Industries before joining Ogden Corporation as assistant treasurer. At Ogden he rose to the position of executive vice president.[1] In 1985 Ogden sold seven of its industrial companies to its employees and Connell became the chief executive officer and chairman of the newly formed Avondale Industries.[5] In September 1986, the president of Avondale's shipyard division attempted to oust Connell, which led to a legal battle between the two sides. The dispute ended in January 1987 when Connell purchased Avondale's six other divisions to form Connell Limited Partnership.[6]
Connell was a director of the Bank of Boston, General Cinema Corporation, Suffolk Downs, Boston Edison Company, Arthur D. Little, FleetBoston Financial, Harcourt General, and the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, a trustee of Boston College and the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and a Museum of Science.[4][7][8] Connell was influential in the merger of BankBoston and FleetBank and was a part of a group of Boston businessmen who brokered a deal that kept the New England Patriots from moving to Connecticut.[4]
Philanthropy[edit]
Connell died of melanoma on August 22, 2001 at his home in Swampscott, Massachusetts. He was 63 years old.[4] Shortly before his death he donated $10 million to Boston College's School of Nursing, which was renamed the William F. Connell School of Nursing in 2003.[9] He also left $5 million to St. Mary's High School, who used the money to construct the William F. Connell Center, which houses a chapel, classrooms, and a technology center.[2][10] In 2003, a donation from Connell's family helped launch the Harvard Business School's Leadership Initiative.[3] That same year, HBS renamed its Fowler House the Connell House.[11] In 2013, the Connell family donated $10 million to establish the Margot and William F. Connell Family MBA Program Innovation Fund at Harvard Business School.[3]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c Ackerman, Jerry (December 27, 1994). "None of Welch Foods' operations is closer than 400 miles from the firm's home office in Concord". The Boston Globe.
- ^ a b c "2002 Newsmakers of the North: William F. Connell". The Boston Globe. January 2, 2003.
- ^ a b c Reidy, Chris (July 2, 2013). "Family gives $10m more to Harvard". The Boston Globe.
- ^ a b c d "William F. Connell, at 63; Boston Civic, Business Leader". The Boston Globe. August 23, 2001.
- ^ Cuff, Daniel F.; Sims, Calvin (May 19, 1986). "Employee Ownership Called Avondale Spur". The New York Times.
- ^ Patterson, Gregory A. (January 29, 1987). "Avondale Industries to Break Up". The Boston Globe.
- ^ "Budd, Connell named directors". The Boston Globe. February 6, 1993.
- ^ "Directors". The Boston Globe. March 16, 1992.
- ^ "Boston College School of Nursing is Dedicated in Honor of the Late Businessman, Alumnus William F. Connell". Press Release. Boston College Department of Public Affairs.
- ^ McCabe, Kathy (October 6, 2005). "Ex-Lynn Church Site Rebuilt as Housing, Community Center". The Boston Globe.
- ^ "Connell House". Harvard Business School. President & Fellows of Harvard College. Retrieved 4 July 2022.