Paul Locatelli

Paul Leo Locatelli, S.J. (September 16, 1938 – July 12, 2010) was an American Jesuit priest, academic and certified public accountant. Locatelli served as the president of Santa Clara University from 1988 until 2008 before becoming chancellor of Santa Clara in 2008. He also held the post of Secretary of Higher Education for the Society of Jesus in Rome.

Biography

Early life Locatelli grew up on a ranch in the town of Boulder Creek, California, in the Santa Cruz Mountains, the second of three sons. The family grew their own walnuts and grapes for winemaking. His mother's family had emigrated from Italy to Oakland, California, where they opened and operated the Colombo Bakery. During Locatelli's tenure as president, academics, admissions standards and endowment funding increased substantially.

Under Locatelli's presidency, Santa Clara University fully renovated or constructed nineteen new campus buildings, as well as a sports center. He was subsequently promoted to chancellor of the university in November 2008 by new Santa Clara University President Michael Engh, S.J.

Recognitions On January 16, 2002, he was awarded the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice from San Jose Bishop Patrick Joseph McGrath.

Father Locatelli was awarded the Spirit of Silicon Valley Lifetime Achievement Award from the Silicon Valley Leadership Group. At the time Father Locatelli took ill, he was preparing for the fiftieth anniversary celebration and reunion of his classmates in the class of 1960 at Santa Clara University, and had already sent out invitations, including one to Leon Panetta. He was moved to the hospice at Regis Jesuit Infirmary in Los Gatos on July 8, 2010. He died from pancreatic cancer on July 12, 2010, at the age of 71.

Locatelli was survived by his brothers, Albert and Harry. CIA Director, former Congressman and White House Chief of Staff Leon Panetta, a 1960 Santa Clara classmate of Locatelli's, stated after Father Locatelli's death that "What Paul told you was always the truth. He didn't play games. You knew that what he said was what he believed. I don't think there is any question that he will go down as one of the greatest presidents in Santa Clara history."