Richard Egan (businessman)
Encyclopedia
Richard J. Egan was an American
engineer
, businessman, political fundraiser and US Ambassador to Ireland.
from Northeastern University in 1962, he was on the team that helped develop Project Apollo
memory systems for NASA
. He was a major donor to the state-of-the-art Egan Engineering and Science Research Center on Northeastern's campus. He served as helicopter crewman in the United States Marine Corps
during the end of the Korean War
, he worked at Lockheed Martin
, Honeywell
, and Intel before founding EMC Corporation
.
In 1979, he founded EMC with Roger Marino
, his college roommate. The two initially sold office furniture in order to raise money to build the company with only a handful of employees. EMC eventually became Massachusetts's largest technology company and had more than 40,000 employees by 2009.
In 1994, Inc. Magazine named Egan "Master Entrepreneur of the Year." He also received the Medal of Honor Society's Patriot Award, the Jewish National Fund Tree of Life Award
and was one of Irish America
magazine's "Top 100."
Egan retired on January 17, 2001 as Chairman Emeritus in order to accept an appointment by President George W. Bush to serve as the United States Ambassador
to Ireland
. On March 14, 2001, he was nominated and he served from August 2001 to December 2002.
Egan was a leader in numerous educational, business and technology groups, serving as director of the Massachusetts High Technology Council and Business Roundtable, director of the New York Stock Exchange
Advisory Board, and founder of the Hopkinton Technology for Education Foundation in Hopkinton, Massachusetts
, where EMC is based. He donated part of his fortune to the Boy Scouts of America
as well as health and education groups. He played critical role in the creation of the Maureen and Richard J Egan Engineering Science Research Center at Northeastern University, his alma mater. He also started an engineering center in Israel
to help develop the company’s products and was credited with greatly improving Israel’s technology infrastructure.
Egan also received honorary degrees from Northeastern University, New England Institute of Technology
and the University of Ulster
, supported numerous charities and established the Hopkinton Technology for Education Foundation.
in 2000, Egan was one of 19 Bush Pioneer
s to become a ambassador
; his sons Christopher and Michael are also Pioneers.
, Egan was ranked as the 258th richest American, with a net worth of approximately $1.3 billion.
, Egan committed suicide at his Boston residence on August 28, 2009 aged 73, while suffering from Stage IV terminal lung cancer
. According to his family, he also suffered from emphysema
and diabetes. He is survived by his wife, Maureen, and their five children.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
engineer
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
, businessman, political fundraiser and US Ambassador to Ireland.
Career
A year after receiving a degree in electrical engineeringElectrical engineering
Electrical engineering is a field of engineering that generally deals with the study and application of electricity, electronics and electromagnetism. The field first became an identifiable occupation in the late nineteenth century after commercialization of the electric telegraph and electrical...
from Northeastern University in 1962, he was on the team that helped develop Project Apollo
Project Apollo
The Apollo program was the spaceflight effort carried out by the United States' National Aeronautics and Space Administration , that landed the first humans on Earth's Moon. Conceived during the Presidency of Dwight D. Eisenhower, Apollo began in earnest after President John F...
memory systems for NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
. He was a major donor to the state-of-the-art Egan Engineering and Science Research Center on Northeastern's campus. He served as helicopter crewman in the United States Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
during the end of the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
, he worked at Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin is an American global aerospace, defense, security, and advanced technology company with worldwide interests. It was formed by the merger of Lockheed Corporation with Martin Marietta in March 1995. It is headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, in the Washington Metropolitan Area....
, Honeywell
Honeywell
Honeywell International, Inc. is a major conglomerate company that produces a variety of consumer products, engineering services, and aerospace systems for a wide variety of customers, from private consumers to major corporations and governments....
, and Intel before founding EMC Corporation
EMC Corporation
EMC Corporation , a Financial Times Global 500, Fortune 500 and S&P 500 company, develops, delivers and supports information infrastructure and virtual infrastructure hardware, software, and services. EMC is headquartered in Hopkinton, Massachusetts, USA.Former Intel executive Richard Egan and his...
.
In 1979, he founded EMC with Roger Marino
Roger Marino
Roger M. Marino is a retired American engineer, businessman, and co-founder of EMC Corporation. His substantial contribution to Northeastern University funded their world class athletic center, which has been named in Marino's honor.-Corporate career:...
, his college roommate. The two initially sold office furniture in order to raise money to build the company with only a handful of employees. EMC eventually became Massachusetts's largest technology company and had more than 40,000 employees by 2009.
In 1994, Inc. Magazine named Egan "Master Entrepreneur of the Year." He also received the Medal of Honor Society's Patriot Award, the Jewish National Fund Tree of Life Award
Jewish National Fund Tree of Life Award
The Tree of Life Award is a humanitarian award the Jewish National Fund presents to individuals in appreciation of their outstanding community involvement, their dedication to the cause of American-Israeli friendship, and their devotion to peace and the security of human life...
and was one of Irish America
Irish America magazine
Irish America magazine is a bi-monthly periodical that aims to cover topics relevant to the Irish in North America including a range of political, economic, social, and cultural themes. The magazine’s inaugural issue was published in October 1985...
magazine's "Top 100."
Egan retired on January 17, 2001 as Chairman Emeritus in order to accept an appointment by President George W. Bush to serve as the United States Ambassador
United States Ambassador to Ireland
There have been a total of 30 Ambassadors of the United States to Ireland meaning the Republic of Ireland. All except one, Frederick A. Sterling, have been non-career appointees, while there were three under President George W. Bush.-List of Ambassadors:...
to Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. On March 14, 2001, he was nominated and he served from August 2001 to December 2002.
Egan was a leader in numerous educational, business and technology groups, serving as director of the Massachusetts High Technology Council and Business Roundtable, director of the New York Stock Exchange
New York Stock Exchange
The New York Stock Exchange is a stock exchange located at 11 Wall Street in Lower Manhattan, New York City, USA. It is by far the world's largest stock exchange by market capitalization of its listed companies at 13.39 trillion as of Dec 2010...
Advisory Board, and founder of the Hopkinton Technology for Education Foundation in Hopkinton, Massachusetts
Hopkinton, Massachusetts
Hopkinton is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, just under 30 miles west and south of Boston. The town is best known as the starting point of the Boston Marathon, held annually on Patriots' Day in April, and as the home of computer storage firm EMC Corporation.For geographic and demographic...
, where EMC is based. He donated part of his fortune to the Boy Scouts of America
Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...
as well as health and education groups. He played critical role in the creation of the Maureen and Richard J Egan Engineering Science Research Center at Northeastern University, his alma mater. He also started an engineering center in Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
to help develop the company’s products and was credited with greatly improving Israel’s technology infrastructure.
Egan also received honorary degrees from Northeastern University, New England Institute of Technology
New England Institute of Technology
New England Institute of Technology is a private, accredited, non-profit technical college offering Associate’s and Bachelor’s of Science degrees in 31 programs generally geared toward persons already in the work force like some 3,000 such similar institutions in the United States. Established in...
and the University of Ulster
University of Ulster
The University of Ulster is a multi-campus, co-educational university located in Northern Ireland. It is the largest single university in Ireland, discounting the federal National University of Ireland...
, supported numerous charities and established the Hopkinton Technology for Education Foundation.
Politics
Following significant fundraising for George W. Bush's presidential campaignGeorge W. Bush presidential campaign, 2000
This article is about the 2000 presidential campaign of George W. Bush, winner of the 2000 presidential election and re-elected in the 2004 election.See George W. Bush for a detailed biography and information about his presidency, and George W...
in 2000, Egan was one of 19 Bush Pioneer
Bush Pioneer
Bush Pioneers are people who gathered $100,000 for George W. Bush's 2000 or 2004 presidential campaign. Two new levels, Bush Rangers and Super Rangers, were bestowed upon supporters who gathered $200,000+ or $300,000+, respectively, for the 2004 campaign, after the 2002 McCain–Feingold campaign...
s to become a ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
; his sons Christopher and Michael are also Pioneers.
Net worth
In its 2005 list of the Forbes 400Forbes 400
The Forbes 400 or 400 Richest Americans is a list published by Forbes Magazine magazine of the wealthiest 400 Americans, ranked by net worth. The list is published annually in September, and 2010 marks the 29th issue. The 400 was started by Malcom Forbes in 1982 and treats those in the list like...
, Egan was ranked as the 258th richest American, with a net worth of approximately $1.3 billion.
Death
A long-time resident of Hopkinton, MassachusettsHopkinton, Massachusetts
Hopkinton is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, just under 30 miles west and south of Boston. The town is best known as the starting point of the Boston Marathon, held annually on Patriots' Day in April, and as the home of computer storage firm EMC Corporation.For geographic and demographic...
, Egan committed suicide at his Boston residence on August 28, 2009 aged 73, while suffering from Stage IV terminal lung cancer
Lung cancer
Lung cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. If left untreated, this growth can spread beyond the lung in a process called metastasis into nearby tissue and, eventually, into other parts of the body. Most cancers that start in lung, known as primary...
. According to his family, he also suffered from emphysema
Emphysema
Emphysema is a long-term, progressive disease of the lungs that primarily causes shortness of breath. In people with emphysema, the tissues necessary to support the physical shape and function of the lungs are destroyed. It is included in a group of diseases called chronic obstructive pulmonary...
and diabetes. He is survived by his wife, Maureen, and their five children.