Kevin Landry and Harvard Athletics
Bits and Pieces 2013-08-03
Summary:
Kevin Landry, a good and honorable man, passed away this week after a battle with lung cancer. He was 69 years old. He was a member of the class of 1966 at Harvard, and made a great deal of money in private equity; he was long head of the firm TA Associates. He was extremely generous to Harvard, contributing to benefit both teaching and athletics. He and his family donated the endowment that supports the head coach of women's ice hockey. His friends and associates have created a fund at Harvard to support cancer research. He was the alumni leader of the last Harvard campaign. Thank you, Kevin. Harvard, and all of us who serve Harvard, owe you a lot. I did not know Landry well, but his death as I was preparing to teach my freshman seminar on Amateur Athletics made me think of how many of the great citizens and leaders who have graduated from Harvard in the period, say, from 1950-1975 had strong athletic experiences here. Landry seems to have been more of a hockey fan at Harvard than a player, though his Middlesex School tribute remembers his football and basketball experience there. I always wonder, when I hear a tribute like this to the integrity of a sometime athlete, whether there is any connection:
And while he generally opposes raising taxes, he says he can’t defend his industry’s advantageous tax treatment, which allows people like him to pay much lower tax rates on their earnings.
“He’s highly, highly principled. To a fault sometimes,’’ said Andy McLane, one of Landry’s longtime partners. “It sets a great example here about doing the right thing, taking the high road. He doesn’t tolerate people who hide things. He wants people to tell the truth.”How often do you hear that kind of talk from the captains of the financial industry these days? (This was a year ago, when he retired and everyone knew he was dying.) But he is not the only one. Here are a few other good and honorable men from the same 25 year time period. Peter Brooke, Harvard '52 and football. A titan of venture capital. As sweet a man as you would ever want to meet, and a person of ramrod rectitude. A tremendous moral support to me while I was dean and Peter headed the Overseers' Visiting Committee to the College. Joe O'Donnell, Harvard '67 and baseball. As if his devotion to Harvard were not enough (he is a Fellow, and the baseball field is named in his honor), he has been a major force supporting research on cystic fibrosis, which took his son at age 12. Tom Stephenson, Harvard '64 and football. Partner at Sequoia Capital, which has been a key player in venture funding for the information revolution. Served as US ambassador to Portugal. Endowed the Harvard head football coach position, serves as Overseer. Don Chiofaro, Harvard '68 and football. A hugely influential Boston area real estate developer and a committed civic leader in Boston, heading up our 45th reunion efforts. Jerry Jordan, Harvard '61 and football. A scholarship kid at Harvard who has made big commitments to financial aid at Harvard, as well as to athletics ("Jordan Field"). Bill Fitzsimmons, Harvard '67 and ice hockey. Harvard's Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid. What more needs to be said? The most respected figure in his field. Scott Harshbarger, Harvard '64 and football. Very popular Attorney General in MA, also headed Common Cause, ran for governor and could do it again. In private practice now but taught at HLS. Paul Guzzi, Harvard '64 and football. President of the Boston Chamber of Commerce, and a regular advisor to Harvard in various ways. Dick Cashin, Harvard '75 and crew (two time Olympian). Another generous and upright alum who credits his athletic experience with some of his success. In a wonderful tribute to recently deceased coach Harry Parker, Cashi
Link:
http://harry-lewis.blogspot.com/2013/08/kevin-landry-and-harvard-athletics.htmlUpdated:
08/03/2013, 16:53From feeds:
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