Cabrini University is deeply saddened by the death of benefactor and friend Frances M. “Frannie” Maguire, wife of James J. Maguire (HON’13), Trustee Emeritus, on Feb. 12.
The Maguires are longtime supporters of Cabrini University. Married on Thanksgiving Day in 1957, the Chestnut Hill, PA, residents were blessed with nine children and 24 grandchildren. Their daughter Susan earned undergraduate and master’s degrees at Cabrini.
A skillful artist, Frannie worked to advance the arts and education throughout her life. She earned a medical secretary degree and studied nursing. She was also a student at the Vermont Studio Center and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.
“Frannie was a talented, caring person who spent a lifetime demonstrating her love for others through her service in healthcare, her paintings and other artistic expressions, her philanthropy, and, above all, her family,” said President Donald B. Taylor, PhD.
Frannie and Jim founded the Maguire Foundation in 2000 with a commitment to improve the quality of life for people through investment in education, the arts and humanities, and ending hunger and homelessness. Inspired by her parents—her father was a surgeon and her mother was a nurse—she recognized the value of education in nursing and healthcare. The Maguires recently announced a $1 million gift to support Cabrini’s new Nursing program. The University's first cohort of Nursing majors this August will include Maguire Nursing Scholars.
“Frannie cared about improving the health of all people and was a staunch supporter of nursing, especially in higher education,” said Steve Highsmith (’88), Vice President of Institutional Advancement. “Life is better today and countless lives will be better tomorrow because of Frances M. Maguire.”
Beyond her financial generosity, Frannie was known for her friendly smile and thought-provoking artwork.
“Frannie Maguire made everyone feel better,” Highsmith said. “Through her welcoming nature and art, she helped everyone feel in a way that the spoken word often cannot convey.”
President Taylor added, “The Cabrini family is forever changed by Frannie’s impact, and we shall keep her spirit in our hearts.”