Flanagan Gift: A Hoya Family Affair

The Georgetown and Jesuit tenets of "educating the mind, body, and spirit," of "being a person for others," and of the "importance of the family" are ideals instilled for generations in the members of the Robert M. and Maurie Flanagan family. Members of the Flanagan clan have come to Georgetown not only to learn, but also to take part in educational opportunities beyond the classroom. Recently the Flanagan family reflected those ideals by making a $1 million gift to Georgetown that will have lasting effects on the university.

The Flanagans' connection to Georgetown University began in the 1920s, when Dr. John J. Flanagan (C'28, M'30, R'31) arrived at the Hilltop. Dr. Flanagan attended Georgetown on a football scholarship and played for legendary Coach Lou Little. After graduation, Dr. Flanagan went on to the Georgetown Medical School, did his residency at Georgetown Hospital, and married Helen Froehlich from Trinity College, class of 1927. The Flanagan legacy continued with the admittance and graduation of Dr. Flanagan's sons, Robert (B'67) and David (M'66), and four grandchildren: Joe (B'93), Sean (B'95), Mara (C'99), and David (MBA'99).

Bob Flanagan gained more than just a degree at the Hilltop. He participated in the Chimes and intramurals; after graduation, he stayed involved with the university by serving as a member of the Board of Regents, the Board of Visitors of the Business School, the Parents Fund Council, the Wall Street Alliance, and most recently the Library Advisory Council. In addition, he met three very special people at Georgetown who have been dear to him ever since. He was introduced to his future wife, Maurie McIntire (N'68), a three-sport athlete in tennis, women's basketball, and swimming. He also met there two of his closest friends. One was fellow-Chime and classmate Joseph Lauinger (C'67); theirs was a friendship that seemed destined to remain, but the Vietnam War stood in the way, and Joe Lauinger died January 8, 1970 in the service of his country. Also, over the 30 years of his association with Georgetown, Bob Flanagan became close friends with Frank Rienzo, Athletic Director Emeritus. Bob served on the Athletics Committee of the Board of Regents, and the two have remained close over the years. Bob admired Frank's 30-year commitment to academic and athletic excellence among all the student-athletes at Georgetown.

Bob and Maurie and their three children decided that the people who were most special to them at Georgetown deserved to be honored in a significant way. At the same time, they decided that the legacy of giving back to the University by the family was important. As part of the University's Third Century Campaign, the family decided to establish the Flanagan Family Foundation with a $1 million gift. The Foundation trustees, Joe, Sean, and Mara, will decide over the next 20 years among a variety of charities to receive gifts from the annual income of the foundation. At the end of the 20 years, the Foundation will be terminated; the principal of $1 million will be given to Georgetown in two ways in honor of special people. In honor of Joe Lauinger and in loving memory of Bob's mother Helen, a former teacher and educator, $500,000 will be given to Lauinger Library for the Chimes Book Fund Endowment, which supports the acquisition of and access to information resources in the main campus libraries. The remaining $500,000 will establish the Flanagan Family Endowed Athletic Scholarship in appreciation of the work of Frank Rienzo and in loving memory of Bob's father.

We are grateful to all the Flanagans!