James J. Maguire '58

When Saint Joseph's University takes possession of the Merion campus of Episcopal Academy in 2008, it will be renamed the James J. Maguire '58 Campus, in honor of alumnus Jim Maguire, who, along with his wife, Frannie, made the generous lead gift of $10 million — the first eight-figure gift in Saint Joseph's history.

The 38-acre campus represents a 58 percent increase to the University's footprint and includes more than 50 classrooms, 113 offices, eight laboratories, 14.5 playing fields and 319 parking spaces. The Maguire Campus is a crucial step in Saint Joseph's vision to be recognized as the preeminent Catholic comprehensive university in the Northeast.

“With this gift, the leadership and support for Saint Joseph's University reached a new level, said University President Timothy R. Lannon, S.J. “Never before has the University been blessed with an eight-figure alumni gift, and never have we had such an extraordinary opportunity to name a campus in honor of one of our own.”

For the Maguire Family, the timing was now.

“When Father Lannon came to the University he stated a goal for Saint Joseph's to be recognized as a ‘preeminent Catholic university.' I thought that was tremendous,” said Maguire. “I think people should be talking about Saint Joseph's in the same breath that they talk about Boston College, Notre Dame, Georgetown … We're in the same league; people just don't recognize it yet. I think that is where the University is going.”

Maguire is chairman and founder of Philadelphia Consolidated Holding Corporation, with assets in excess of $4 billion. The corporation and its four subsidiaries comprise 47 offices and approximately 2,000 employees in major markets across the United States. Prior to establishing Philadelphia Consolidated Holding Corporation in 1980, Maguire founded Maguire Insurance Agency, Inc., only a year-and-a-half after his graduation from Saint Joseph's in 1960.

Maguire and Frannie, have been residents of Chestnut Hill for more than 38 years. They are the parents of eight children, all college graduates, including three from Saint Joseph's. In addition, three children are executives in the Philadelphia Insurance Companies, with current University Trustee James J. Maguire, Jr., '84, assuming the position of president and CEO in 2002.

A Korean War veteran and a father of eight, Maguire is a past Vice Chairman of the Saint Joseph's University Board of Trustees where he chaired the previous capital campaign which built the Chapel of St. Joseph's—Michael J. Smith, S.J. Memorial, in 1992. In 2004, Maguire was inducted into the Erivan K. Haub School of Business Hall of Fame.

“I believe Saint Joseph's University is one of the finest in the country,” says Maguire. “Saint Joseph's is a university with great students and professors who espouse Jesuit ideals,” Maguire said. All this creates a loyalty, an energy, and an enthusiasm. What we've done in the last 15 to 20 years is just spectacular. I hope other alumni will be as excited as I am about the progress we've made and where we're going.”

The leadership exemplified by the Maguire Family embody the core ideals of the University,” said Father Lannon. “This is a University whose graduates are leaders and achievers, and few carry those distinctions better than Jim Maguire. His success in business and the insurance industry is exceeded only by his tremendous faith, love of family, and loyalty to alma mater."