Nancy and Bernard ’74, ’81 MS Cavanaugh

Located at the heart of Main Campus, Falvey Memorial Library is an interdisciplinary academic hub for the Villanova University community. The library’s resources, programs and facilities continue to grow and adapt to the needs of modern, digitally-savvy students and faculty, thanks to generous donor contributions, including a recent bequest from Nancy and Bernard ’74, ’81 MS Cavanaugh.

Bernie’s education did not follow the typical path: He earned his undergraduate degree in mathematics over the course of seven years. Bernie worked full-time at Bell of Pennsylvania—now Verizon—and took one or two night classes per semester. Instead of driving home between class and work shifts, he made Falvey Library his home base, spending countless hours doing homework and research.

This intellectual atmosphere helped fuel his desire to learn, and he went on to earn his master’s degree in computer science from Villanova in 1981.

“I’m proud to call myself a Villanovan and be associated with this great University,” says Bernie. “My education has helped me a lot in the business world, not because of the equations I learned, but because my professors taught me how to think critically.”

Another perk from Bernie’s Villanova connection—catching the attention of his wife, Nancy. Nancy had taken some courses through the University. When she saw Bernie wearing his Villanova t-shirt at Bell of PA, she immediately struck up a conversation. They wed in 1976.

Beyond their educational ties to Villanova, the Cavanaughs, who now live in Virginia, chose to invest in the University because its Augustinian values are strongly aligned with their own.

“Villanova provides a wonderful environment for young people to become good citizens. I hope that our bequest to Falvey Library will help students develop a greater sense of intellectual curiosity—that they are excited to explore and understand beyond the easy answer,” says Nancy.

A portion of the Cavanaugh’s gift will also benefit student scholarships.

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Your future gift to Villanova will help prepare the leaders of tomorrow. Contact Tim McKinley at timothy.mckinley@villanova.edu and 215-240-0812 to learn more.