Paul Locatelli

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Paul Locatelli
27th President of
Santa Clara University
In office
1988–2008
Preceded byWilliam J. Rewak. S.J.
Succeeded byMichael Engh, S.J.
Personal details
Born(1938-09-16)September 16, 1938
Boulder Creek, California
DiedJuly 12, 2010(2010-07-12) (aged 71)
Los Gatos, California
ResidenceSanta Clara, California
Alma materSanta Clara University University of Southern California
Websitewww.scu.edu/president

Paul Leo Locatelli, S.J. (September 16, 1938 – July 12, 2010) was an American

Society of Jesus in Rome
.

Biography

Early life

Locatelli grew up on a

Oakland, California, where they opened and operated the Colombo Bakery.[1]

Locatelli was the first member of his family to attend college.

Oakland A's owner Stephen Schott.[1] Locatelli obtained a doctorate in business from the University of Southern California's Marshall School of Business.[2]

He enlisted in the

Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley.[2] He was ordained a Jesuit priest in 1974.[2]

Santa Clara University

Locatelli began teaching at Santa Clara University as a professor of accounting in 1974, the same year in which he was ordained a Jesuit priest.[2] Within a few years, he was voted outstanding teacher of the year. He rose from Dean of the School of Business, to Academic Vice-President.

Locatelli was named the 27th President of Santa Clara University in 1988 after 14 years at the university.[3] During Locatelli's tenure as president, academics, admissions standards and endowment funding increased substantially.

Under Locatelli's presidency, Santa Clara University fully renovated or constructed nineteen new campus buildings, as well as a sports center.

sorority houses, which lessened the influence of the Greek system on student life.[1] Controversially, Locatelli eliminated the school's Division II football program in 1993.[1]

Locatelli spearheaded the effort to reroute

palm trees, built which leads to the Mission Santa Clara de Asís, a 1777 Spanish mission which is now the centerpiece of Santa Clara's campus.[1]

Locatelli and Santa Clara University became involved with the

Universidad Centroamericana, in which six Jesuits, their housekeeper and her daughter were killed by the Salvadoran Army. (The surviving Jesuit priest had been out of El Salvador at the time of the killings).[1] Father Locatelli also implemented a program where Santa Clara students volunteered and worked at a women's center and urban schools in El Salvador.[1]

Under President Locatelli's guidance, Santa Clara's endowment at Santa Clara grew from $77 million in 1988 to approximately $700 million in 2008.[1]

Through the

Ignatian Center for Jesuit Education, the University has expanded its ability to connect students to communities in Silicon Valley and throughout the world. Locatelli was known affectionately by the students at SCU through a variety of nicknames; such as; "Papa Lōc", "Big Poppa P", "P. Loc", and the "Big P".[1]

On March 1, 2008, Locatelli announced his intention to resign during the 2008–09 academic year, after 20 years as university president, due to his additional responsibilities as Secretary of Higher Education of the

Society of Jesus in Rome, a post he had held since January 2007, coordinating the Jesuits 150 universities worldwide, to promote cooperation among Jesuit higher education institutions.[4] He was subsequently promoted to chancellor of the university in November 2008 by new Santa Clara University President Michael Engh, S.J.[5]

Recognitions

On January 16, 2002 he was awarded the

Patrick Joseph McGrath.[6]

Father Locatelli was awarded the Spirit of Silicon Valley Lifetime Achievement Award from the Silicon Valley Leadership Group.[1] He was also a recipient of the David Packard Award in 2009.[1]

Death

Locatelli was diagnosed with

Los Gatos on July 8, 2010. He died from pancreatic cancer on July 12, 2010, at the age of 71.[1][2]

Locatelli was survived by his brothers, Albert and Harry.

CIA Director, former Congressman and White House Chief of Staff Leon Panetta, a 1960 Santa Clara classmate of Locatelli's, stated after Father Locatelli's death that, "What Paul told you was always the truth. He didn't play games. You knew that what he said was what he believed. I don't think there is any question that he (Father Locatelli) will go down as one of the greatest presidents in Santa Clara history."[1]

References

  1. ^
    San Jose Mercury News
    . Retrieved August 17, 2011.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h McChesney, Charles (2010-07-14). "Passing: Paul Leo Locatelli, chancellor and former president of Santa Clara University, dies at 71". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2010-07-23.
  3. ^ "Paul Locatelli, S.J. 1938-2010". Santa Clara University press release. 2010-07-12. Retrieved 2010-07-23.
  4. ^ O'Brien, Liz (2008-04-03). "University president resigns to take on expanded role in Rome". The Santa Clara. Retrieved 2010-07-23.
  5. ^ McChesney, Charles. "Chancellor's Office press release". Santa Clara University. Retrieved 2010-07-23.
  6. ^ "SCU president honored with 'Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice' Award". Santa Clara University. 2002-01-16. Retrieved 2010-07-23.
  7. ^ "University Press Release". Santa Clara University. Retrieved 2010-07-12.

External links

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