Boston College High School, a Jesuit, Catholic, college-preparatory school for young men in grades 7 to 12, has announced a $49 million gift from late alumnus Patrick F. Cadigan (’52) in support of a wellness complex.

Awarded through the Patrick F. Cadigan Family Foundation, the bequest is the largest single gift in the school’s 159-year history and will support the Patrick F. Cadigan ’52 Family Foundation Wellness Complex. Construction is slated to begin in January 2023 on the 50,000-square-foot space, which will feature a 6,200-square-foot strength and conditioning area; a 3,700-square-foot cardio space; a 1,000-square-foot athletic training center; an eight-lane, 25-meter pool; flexible classroom space; and a wellness kitchen.

The son of Irish immigrants, Cadigan worked part-time at his father’s bar to help pay for his education. Cadigan, who died in April 2020, was the former president and CEO of the Electronic Engineering Company of California. In 2012, he awarded $12 million for the construction of Cadigan Hall, BC High’s center for arts and recreation.

“Dad felt a strong personal responsibility to give back to the schools that contributed to the man he became and to the success he achieved,” said Maria Cadigan. “He always told me that his time at BC High truly formed him as a person. His Jesuit teachers, and the relationships and fellowship he had with his classmates, were powerful influences on him. They instilled in him the values and discipline needed to be successful in every aspect of both his business and his life.”

“Pat was someone who believed very deeply that living compassionately in service of others was a way of life,” said BC High president Grace Cotter Regan. “This gift is not just an investment in a physical space here on campus, but an investment in the formation of generations of young men. We are profoundly grateful for Pat and his family’s enduring commitment to supporting student health and wellness. The wellness complex will continue to deepen our approach to relational teaching and learning, enhancing both the philosophical and physical aspects of a Jesuit, Catholic education.”

(Image credit: Boston College High School)