A LEGACY THAT LASTS

Former CSB and SJU chemistry professor Bill Muldoon supported scholarships much of his life. When he passed away, that support suddenly and unexpectedly exploded with the disbursement of his estate.

A native of Boston, Massachusetts, Bill Muldoon moved to Minnesota in 1972 to earn a Ph.D. in medicinal chemistry. He taught in the chemistry department at Saint Ben’s and Saint John’s from 1979-1996, which means his tenure coincided with the presidencies of Sister Emmanuel Renner and Sister Colman O’Connell at Saint Ben’s. They became close friends as Bill served in a variety of faculty leadership roles, was the pre-pharmacy advisor and led study abroad programs to Greece and Italy on which the two presidents occasionally participated.

Bill retired early from teaching and worked as a pharmacist in St. Paul for more than

10 years. After he finally retired for good, he became an Oblate and active volunteer with Saint John’s Abbey. He traveled from his home on Summit Avenue in St. Paul to Collegeville at least one day a week, usually participating in the monastic noon prayer and community Mass.

Long a philanthropic supporter of both schools, Bill provided scholarships to students and, in summer 2020, honored a dear friend, Gary Thomas, who died in 2019, by passing on Gary’s rare Hellmuth Wolff mechanical action pipe organ. Gary had given the organ to Bill with the encouragement that he donate it to CSB.

Bill further endowed a scholarship for Saint Ben’s students studying the pipe organ.

For all his generosity, however, Bill never let on to the enormous gifts he would leave to the College of Saint Benedict. He died on Sept. 6, 2022, at age 78. Soon after, it was revealed that he’d left his estate to Saint Ben’s, including Gary Thomas’ estate and that of one of Bill’s sisters.

The contributions include IRAs worth more than $4 million, and Bill’s refurbished mansion on Summit Avenue – worth as much as $1 million. His chief desire was to launch an undergraduate research fund in chemistry, encouraging students to become engaged outside the classroom. However, a majority of his resources are undesignated, giving Saint Ben’s unlimited ways to serve our students and commemorate his life.

While he was teaching, and in retirement, Bill wasn’t that different from many donors who may give $1,000 per year – a not insignificant amount. His estate gift, however, is an example of the maximum impact someone can have in supporting what meant most to them during their lives. In that sentiment, Bill is not alone. Many other benefactors who have given as he has throughout their lives also are capable of a big, bold demonstration of their passion in their estate planning.

His estate gift is an example of the maximum impact someone can have in supporting what meant most to them during their lives.

Throughout his career, Bill fostered students in the classroom. And throughout his life, he was attached to the friendships he made with Sister Emmanuel and Sister Colman. While he can no longer interact with the people he loved and left behind, his investment in students and Saint Ben’s will leave a tremendous and lasting legacy.

If you’re interested in learning more about the potential impact of estate planning and the steps it takes to get started, contact Senior Planned and Leadership Giving Officer Tara Maas ’14, 320-363-5078, tmaas@csbsju.edu.