Photo courtesy of Daniel Passapera and Sacred Heart University
FAIRFIELD — Bridgeport natives Frank and Marisa Martire have made a habit of giving back to Sacred Heart University. This time they gave $3 million to go toward the modernization and enhancement of classrooms and facilities as well as the beautification and advancement of nearby Notre Dame Prep of Sacred Heart University.
Frank, who graduated from Notre Dame Prep in 1965 and Sacred Heart in 1969, and Marisa had earlier donated $5 million for the construction of Martire Family Arena that hosts ice hockey games.
Chris Cipriano, head of Notre Dame Prep, on Monday, Nov. 17, said he is “struggling” with how to get his students to fully grasp the scale of such an investment. It is, admittedly, a nice problem to have, he said.
This will be the largest gift the Catholic school, situated on the Fairfield/Bridgeport border, has ever received. The previous largest gift to the school was $500,000, received in 1999. The Martires’ donation for the arena came before it opened in 2023.
Cipriano shared the exciting news with his faculty and staff late Monday, and the announcement was made to the student body on Tuesday. It was greeted with shouts and cheers as they thought about what that amount of money could mean to the school. More cheering erupted as the students learned they would receive a free pizza lunch and a day off to celebrate the gift.
“It’s hard to imagine what a gift of this magnitude will do for Notre Dame Prep. We all thank you from the bottom of our hearts,” said Hannah Reyna, student council president and member of the senior class on behalf of the students. “I look forward to coming back after I graduate to see the changes. I am already proud to be a Notre Dame student and that you think enough of our school to provide this gift makes me even prouder. Thank you very much, Mr. and Mrs. Martire.”
Other speakers included Cipriano, SHU President John J. Petillo and the Martires themselves. Following the announcement, the Martires hosted an interactive luncheon with more than a dozen Notre Dame Prep students answering questions, sharing “the why” and learning more about the students’ stories and pride for their school.
Frank attributes much of his own success to the lessons cultivated at Sacred Heart, but which he says first took root at Notre Dame.
“We made a clear decision to give back,” Frank said. Though much of their charitable giving to this point has been focused on the university and its development, the idea of giving to the high school resonated as an opportunity to impact the local community on a more personal level, he added.
Now, as Sacred Heart formally acquired Notre Dame Prep from the Diocese of Bridgeport just last year, this gift is an opportunity to build a strong foundation for the bridge between secondary and higher education where the couple grew up.
“Caring about the student means caring about the whole student,” Marisa said.
SHU President Petillo gave voice to the appreciation all university students and faculty were thinking.
“Both Sacred Heart and Notre Dame Prep are blessed by the generosity of Frank and Marisa,” Petillo said. “They understand the importance a good education plays in future success, and they appreciate that learning at Notre Dame and Sacred Heart includes grounding in the mission, values and guiding principles of each institution. They also realize the need for up-to-date facilities and equipment in today’s ever-changing environment.”
It’s a sentiment shared by Cipriano.
“This gift will help fund renovations to make a more modern institution for knowledge — one that recognizes the importance of all aspects of learning. That includes not only the academic, but the psychological, the emotional, the moral and social elements as well. It will impact the future of all students at Notre Dame Prep.”
