Seton Hall University has received $1 million from the Torcivia Family Foundation to help fund two university priorities, according to a Monday announcement.
Alumnus Joe Torcivia is endowing scholarships that will support qualified students based on financial need, and the construction of a new basketball practice facility on the South Orange campus. Torcivia is a former member of the board of regents and has been supportive of the university since earning his law degree in 1985.
“For 40 years, the Torcivia family has been supporting Seton Hall University in many ways,” noted university President Joseph Nyre. “From partnering with us on capital projects, to Joe’s service on the board, to their consistent philanthropy, they have endorsed our people, our academic programming and our vision for the future. We are deeply grateful for this latest gift, which firmly establishes their legacy at Seton Hall.”
Torcivia runs the family’s commercial construction management business, Torcon, with his brother, Ben Torcivia. Torcon was established by their father, Benedict Torcivia, as a general contracting firm in 1965 and now serves clients in the eastern U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico, with an annual construction volume of over $500 million.
“Seton Hall has been an integral part of my family’s history,” Torcivia said. “My dad had both personal and business relationships with Seton Hall alumni stretching back generations. When I remember my days at Seton Hall Law, it wasn’t just the outstanding legal training I received. Equally important for me were the people I met along the way, including my colleagues and the clients I had the opportunity to work with while practicing law. Many are still an important part of my life today.”
Torcivia described his time at Seton Hall as “life-changing” and wants other students to have access to transformational academic experiences, as well.
“My brother and I learned from our dad that we were in a very fortunate position,” Torcivia said. “Helping others gain access to higher education is a motivating factor for our gift, no matter what field of study they are pursuing. Years ago, we established a scholarship at Seton Hall named in honor of Professor John P. Deehan, a close family friend and exceptional teacher. We’re pleased to do it on a larger scale now and give more students opportunities they otherwise might not have had.”
Recently, Seton Hall announced its plans to build a state-of-the-art men’s basketball practice facility on campus. The university’s goal is to sustain a perennial top 25 Men’s Basketball program, which will drive a more robust student experience on and off the university’s campuses. Torcivia has been incredibly supportive of Seton Hall’s athletics program over the years and sees the new facility as a game-changer for men’s basketball.
Having served not only on the university’s board, but on other boards as well, Torcivia knows the importance of making lead gifts to large capital projects and hopes his largesse will inspire fellow alumni.
“Since my time on the board, I’ve never been more optimistic about Seton Hall’s future,” said Torcivia. “A big part of that is having Dr. Nyre at the helm and an all-star team behind him. They have given me confidence that the university can really get to that next level.”
