Philanthropist, professor, Connecticut College alumni, and former college president Claire Gaudiani died on October 16 in New York City at the age of 79.
Gaudiani attended Conn in the Class of 1966 and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in French Language and Literature. After receiving her Master’s Degree and Ph.D. from Indiana University, Gaudiani went on to teach at several schools at varying levels– from prestigious universities such as Yale and NYU to confirmation classes to middle-school-aged youth at her local church in New York. Gaudiani maintained a broad and bountiful teaching experience. She also received a number of distinguished teaching awards and ten honorary doctorate degrees.
Gaudiani served as Conn’s eighth president from 1988 to 2001. She was the College’s first female president. According to the College in a release regarding Gaudiani’s passing, the endowment rose exponentially during her presidency. This resulted in improved representation and heightened prospective student engagement, both nationally and internationally.
At the end of her presidency, Gaudiani was president of the controversial New London Development Company that hoped to partner with Pfizer to develop New London’s downtown. She resigned from her position at the College in 2001 after a vote of no confidence from faculty and conflicts with the student body over her involvement with the NLDC.
At the time of her passing, Gaudiani was working as a professor at New York University at the George H. Heyman, Jr. Center for Philanthropy and Fundraising.
In the release, current President Andrea E. Chapdelaine wrote, “I know many of our faculty and staff worked closely with her and will remember her vision, commitment and passion for the College. She will always be a Camel.”
On Saturday, November 9, a memorial mass and reception for Gaudiani was held at St. Paul The Apostle Church in New York City.
