Remembering Don Fagan

Robin Bray '86

As I sit here trying to convey what Don meant to me, I find myself struggling to find words that could possibly be linked together and do justice to the memory of such a great man, mentor, and friend.

For me, the magic of Don was his ability to personally connect, in a meaningful way, with so many people, in such a short time. He showed us not only how to invest in business, but how to invest in ourselves and others. He taught through example, always upbeat and cheerful, regardless of adversity. For Don, life was a great adventure, punctuated by stories and defined by long hours spent with family and friends. Don was a true master at living life to its fullest, a great
example of the ultimate in success.

A patriarch of the DWC "family" he helped to create, Don was above all human. I think that’s part of what made him so endearing. (That, and the fact that he could get away with just about anything that the rest of us dare not try!) And now that he has passed, I can’t help but think that while we have lost our friend for now, we have also gained so much. We are collectively the crop of citizens that Don has sown, for so much of his life. We are the investments that he has made and his lessons live on in us and in those we touch.

So, as I sit feebly trying to say enough about a man, whom I loved so much, I realize that Don, our mentor and instructor, wouldn’t have left us unless he believed we were ready to carry on in his absence, ready to solo (if I may so suggest.).

I hope we will each continue to rise to his challenge, to reach our full potential, and to share some of the wit and wisdom Don has shown us over the years with those that weren’t fortunate enough to have known such a compassionate, wise, loving, fun soul. That would be a fitting tribute.

Godspeed, Don. Until we meet again.

Allen Dunn ‘06

While reminiscing about the countless stories through which Professor Fagan has touched our lives, I was reminded of one, in particular, that I feel truly characterizes his unmatched sense of humor. I’m sure there are several of you out there that have heard this one before though it hasn’t yet been shared in this forum. For those who haven’t yet heard it: enjoy.

The story begins during the spring finals season at Daniel Webster, years ago. For weeks prior, Professor Fagan had been announcing in class the date, time, and location of his famous Faganomics final, “Monday during finals week at 9AM, downstairs in DW Hall.” The exam would be worth 40 percent of the final grade and there would be no excuses for missing it. Everyone knew when and where the event would take place, including two freshmen in the class who decided to take their chances and head up to Plymouth State for an end-of-year bash held the night before the final. The students planned to stay overnight, wake up at seven the following morning, cruise straight on down Route 3/I-93, and be back for the final at nine, with time to spare. Well, the party was better than either of them could have imagined. In fact, it was so good that it continued well into the following morning and as one might expect, the students found themselves stumbling out the door at 9:30AM in Plymouth. Throughout their high-speed trip back to Nashua, the students had crafted an excuse that was sure to work to their advantage in their plea with Fagan for a make-up exam. As the two fell through the doorway into his office at 11AM, that unforgettable smirk came across Professor Fagan’s face as if he had been waiting for this moment all semester. He had undoubtedly heard similar excuses plenty of times before, in the countless years he had spent selflessly serving the College. Nonetheless, he listened carefully as the two clowns before him made sure to tell of how they took their macroeconomics materials with them on a weekend-long camping trip so that they could prepare for the test in the unmatched solitude of the White Mountains. His smile remained as they swore that they would’ve made the morning final with plenty of time to spare if it hadn’t been for the flat tire they ended up with, driving out of the wilderness. It took an extra long time to fix the flat because the jack kept sinking in the one-of-a-kind New Hampshire mud that was everywhere as the result of the rainstorms the week before. When the flat was fixed, the students told him how they sped directly back to his office and busted through the doorway just minutes ago. The students made sure to include every last detail, and finally, when the freshmen finished their story, confident that they had won him over, Fagan reluctantly agreed to provide a make-up opportunity for the students at 3PM that afternoon.

When the two arrived at Fagan’s office later that day, he gave each an exam and designated two separate rooms in which the students could take the test. The first page was multiple-choice, as expected. Question one read: Select the approximate national unemployment rate. The second question was about GDP, just as the two had studied. The third was no surprise: Who wrote the Wealth of Nations? Adam Smith. Each of the ten questions on the first page was worth one point each. As they flipped to the second page, in their separate testing rooms, the students’ jaws both dropped as they found one 90 point question waiting for them: Which tire went flat?

Professor Fagan was a one of a kind spirit and made a lasting impression on everyone he met. I’ll never forget the life lessons I learned from him and extend my deepest condolences to his loving family.

Brian Sannicandro ’99

I was very saddened to hear of Professor Fagan’s passing. I remember the first time I met him – it was late August 1995, my first day at Daniel Webster. Hockey bag on my back, and a Yankee cap on my head, he stopped in his tracks and immediately poked fun at my choice of team, being the most avid of Red Sox fans. I think he told me I’d be a lot safer with bars on my dorm room door or by simply putting the hat away for good. Even better, he then asked me, “if you play hockey, why do you still have your teeth?” That was the first of several fun exchanges we’d share over the next four years. Luckily for me, I had the honor of taking 3 or 4 of his classes throughout my collegiate career. Each was a treat, not because his stories were great, but because I truly felt that he cared about my well-being, and it was evident that he really enjoyed teaching. Plus, who else would let me leave my class early on a gorgeous spring day to go play in a GNAC baseball game?

He always found a way to connect with each student on a personal level, whether it was through a story about a visit to your hometown, or a sport or hobby you had in common. Mr. Fagan was honest, sincere, intelligent, and most of all, he listened to what we had to say. He allowed us to think outside the box, always finding ways to equate our textbook learning to real-world application. To this day, I still use some of the “tricks” he taught me in my financial investments course.

The other thing I admired about Mr. Fagan was that he didn’t treat his position at DWC as a job, but rather as if he was one of the leaders in our small community. He was the MOST involved person within the DWC community. As a fan, regardless of how bad some of our teams were, he always found time to make it to at least one game for every sport DWC athletics was involved in. I can’t remember the number of hockey games where I’d skate onto the ice, and who was on the other side of the glass, but Don Fagan in his DWC colors! He was even at some of our road games. When our hockey team won an invitational tournament that included schools much larger and better known than DWC, he was one of the first people to rush to Coach LaBarre’s office the following Monday to congratulate us and ask to see our trophy. He was such a great fan, we would always joke with him and ask if he’d come to our late night intramural games too!

Whether one of us was injured from a sport, stressed about a test, or a little homesick, he always found a way to stop and make us smile. Even after my days at DWC were over, whenever I cross paths with another DWC alum, one of the first people we always reminisce about was Professor Fagan – a testament to how many lives he touched. There wasn’t a kinder, more well-liked person on the DWC staff than Don Fagan and he will truly be missed. My sincerest condolences to his family and the DWC family!