September 13, 2007

Pender Bequest of More Than $4 Million Honors Christian Brothers

Brother Vincent Malham of Christian Brothers University (left) and Brother Chris Englert of Christian Brothers High School (right) with members of the Pender/Pendergrast family, Joe and Cindy Pendergrast, John and Lolo McBride, and Livy and Michael Pendergrast, at the September 21 dedication of Pender Hall.

Eugene J. Pender, 1942 graduate of Christian Brothers High School and student of Christian Brothers College, remembered his mentors and close friends, the Christian Brothers, with a gift in excess of $4 Million to be shared equally between Christian Brothers University and Christian Brothers High School.

Pender who died in 2005 at the age of 80 never forgot the lifelong lessons and education that he received from the Christian Brothers. Joseph C. Pendergrast III, his nephew, recalls, "The Brothers took Uncle Gene under their wing and helped him to realize his potential as a person and live up to that potential. Through their education and teaching, both in the classroom and out of the classroom, the Brothers molded the values that he lived throughout his life. He was honest to a fault and generous to a fault. The Brothers had a very special place in his heart, and he never missed an opportunity to visit them."

As many of his classmates, Pender was called into service with the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II and flew cargo supply routes to South American and the Canary Islands. After the war, he attended Memphis State University but left to join the New York Yankees farm team in Greenwood, MS. However, he decided to trade baseball for the business world. His business career spanned throughout the world and Pender applied the Brothers’ business lessons of attention to detail and customer service to all of this endeavors. He eventually entered the insurance business in Atlanta with The Pender Agency where he earned the reputation of being trustworthy, dependable and a person of integrity.

Pender exemplified the core values of faith, service and community that the Brothers impart to their students. He always credited the Christian Brothers with his success and showed his gratitude with this bequest. "A gift like this affirms the vocation of teaching." states Brother Chris Englert, FSC, principal of Christian Brothers High School. "Sometimes, educators see dramatic changes in their students in a few months, and others after a few years. But oftentimes, teachers never realize the impact they may have had on an individual student. Gene Pender’s act of generosity speaks volumes, not only to the Christian Brothers, but also to the teachers who have devoted their lives to today’s youth. Although we have been focusing on Gene’s life, the fact that he waited until after he was gone to let his gift be known leads me to believe that he wanted the focus to be on his teachers."

On September 21, Christian Brothers University in turn honored Pender’s bequest by naming one of the residence halls in his memory, Pender Hall. Family and friends from across the county joined the CBU community for this special dedication ceremony.

Brother Vincent Malham, FSC, president of Christian Brothers University summed up the impact of Pender’s generosity, "This gift made possible the renovation and beautification of seven student residence halls and it will also make possible other campus ameliorations in the future. Our hope is that Pender Hall will always remind our students of the unique spirit of adventure, entrepreneurial expertise and generosity typified by this wonderful person, and inspire them to always be grateful to those who contribute in some way to their education. The Christian Brothers who worked personally with him during his years at CBC High School and College would be tremendously proud and pleased to know of their influence in his life and his gracious gesture of appreciation. As a Christian Brother, I am both honored and humbled by the respect Uncle Gene accorded my fellow Brothers in attributing much of his success in life to his former teachers and mentors." ###