Fairfield University trustee
FAIRFIELD — Fairfield University alum and trustee John Charles Meditz has gifted $50 million to the university – the largest in the Jesuit school’s history.
The 1970 graduate made the gift to “create a lasting impact and advance the University’s mission to expand student learning and continuously enhance the quality of its Jesuit, Catholic liberal arts and sciences education,” the school announced Monday, March 17.
With the recent donation Meditz’s total lifetime giving to the University now exceeds $75 million. This includes his gift in 2008, which laid the foundation for the Fairfield University Art Museum, along with an additional gift endowing the Frank and Clara Meditz Executive Director Chair, named in honor of his parents.
“Fairfield has always been and continues to be an institution that is guided by and embraces the liberal arts as the cornerstones of life-long intellectual engagement and discovery,” Meditz said. “My gift is a reflection of my deep personal belief in the power of a liberal arts education to inspire and equip students with the tools and experiences they need to become thoughtful, engaged citizens of our world.”
In recognition of Meditz’s generosity, President Mark R. Nemec, Ph.D, announced that Fairfield University’s College of Arts & Sciences will be renamed the John Charles Meditz College of Arts & Sciences, effective July 1.
“Meditz College will continue to serve as a vital foundation of our dedication to be stewards of our more than 500-year-old Jesuit Catholic educational tradition, forming men and women for and with others in service of the greater good,” Nemec said. “Announcing the gift today is especially meaningful as it commemorates the 83rd anniversary of Fairfield’s founding in 1942, further celebrating John’s extraordinary impact as Fairfield is called to do more for our students.”
A graduate of the College of Arts and Sciences, where he earned a bachelor of arts in economics, and Rutgers University, where he earned an MBA in finance, Meditz has spent decades building a legacy of service and leadership.
He co-founded Horizon Kinetics LLC in 1994 and serves as managing director and senior portfolio manager there. Throughout his professional career, Meditz has exemplified a commitment to excellence in every role, from his early teaching career at William Patterson College to his significant contributions in the finance industry, including at Manufacturers Hanover Trust Co., and Bankers Trust Co.
For nearly 30 years, he has been a trustee of the University’s Board of Trustees, actively engaging in various leadership capacities, including serving as the honorary chair of the Fairfield Rising Campaign steering committee. His long history of support includes both financial contributions and service on key committees such as the Fairfield Awards Dinner and Our Promise Capital Campaign. In recognition of his dedication, Meditz was awarded an honorary doctoral degree in 2015 and received the Alumni Service Award in 2011.
His continued commitment to the arts has helped fund important initiatives such as the Arthur Szyk and Gesù exhibitions. Additionally, Meditz’s support has extended to various campus priorities, including the Leslie C. Quick, Jr. Recreation Complex, the John C. Meditz ’70 Scholarship established in 1989, and the Fairfield Awards Dinner’s scholarship fund.
“The naming of the College in honor of John Charles Meditz speaks to his enduring legacy of leadership, service, and commitment to academic excellence that he embodies,” said Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences Richard Greenwald, PhD. “Fairfield will forever be grateful of his recognition of the importance of the arts and sciences, and the foundation for which we provide our students with the critical skills they need to succeed in today’s world, while grounding them in the Jesuit tradition of academic rigor and personal reflection.”
Outside of Fairfield University, Meditz has served on numerous boards, chair committees, and foundations, including as chairman of the Weehawken Planning Board; trustee of John Cabot University in Rome; treasurer of the Weehawken (New Jersey) Public Library; and as a trustee for organizations such as the former Palisades Medical Center, now part of the Hackensack Meridian Health Network, and his alma mater Xavier High School in New York.
John Charles Meditz reflected on the importance of giving back and the value of a liberal arts education. Click here to watch.
