In Memoriam: Kathleen M. McGillycuddy

The first female chair of the Boston College Board of Trustees, founding co-chair of the Council for Women of Boston College, and generous University benefactor, died June 5

Kathleen M.  McGillycuddy, the first female chair of the Boston College Board of Trustees, and a pioneer in Boston banking circles, died on June 5.

Kathleen McGillycuddy

Kathleen McGillycuddy (Gary Wayne Gilbert)

McGillycuddy, a 1971 graduate of the Newton College of the Sacred Heart, which merged with BC four years later, became a BC trustee in 2002, and served as vice-chair from 2008 to 2011, when she was named chair, serving until 2014.

At the time, she said, “I am thrilled to have the opportunity to lead this distinguished board and to work directly with so many talented and dedicated faculty, staff and students at Boston College. I am committed to doing all that I can to support the continued success of the University.”

She was a passionate volunteer for BC in addition to her trustee role, serving as founding co-chair of the Council for Women of Boston College in 2002, and later chair until 2023.  The council connects the women of Boston College within and beyond the campus, advancing the role of alumnae as leaders and engaged members of the BC community, and strengthening their involvement and influence to support the University’s mission, female students, and one another.

A generous benefactor, McGillycuddy and her husband, Ronald E. Logue '67, M.B.A. '74, were co-chairs of the “Light the World” capital campaign and established the McGillycuddy-Logue Center for Undergraduate Global Studies in 2008 to promote innovative international learning for undergraduates at Boston College.  

She earned an M.B.A. from Babson College and proceeded to become among the first of several women to assume senior roles in Boston banking for more than three decades.

She began her financial services career in the mid-1970s at Bank of New England in the treasury department. McGillycuddy then led BankBoston Corporation's Global Markets Group, including the Treasury, Asset Management, and Investment Product and Services Groups, and chaired BankBoston's Asset/Liability and Capital and Market Risk Management Committees.  She retired as executive vice president of the Wealth Management Group for FleetBoston Financial in 2002, overseeing more than $50 billion in assets.  She and Logue retired to East Dennis, Mass.

Her zeal for volunteerism extended to the medical field: she served as a member of the Brigham & Women's Hospital President's Advisory Board and chair of its Heart and Vascular Center Advisory Board.

McGillycuddy was raised in Suffern, New York, and attended parochial schools. She is survived by her husband, Ronald Logue; was the stepmother of Amy Logue (Matthew Milowsky) of Chapel Hill, N.C., and Emily Logue of Chatham, N.Y.; and the sister of Elizabeth Ferrara of Columbus, Ohio, Eugene McGillycuddy of Dennis, Mass., and Daniel McGillycuddy of Airmont, N.Y.  Her considerable talents were engaged serving as a role model and advisor for her stepchildren, nieces and nephews, who benefited from her endless love and affection. 

Visiting hours will be held at the George F. Doherty & Sons Funeral Home, 477 Washington St., (Rt.16) Wellesley on Thursday, June 13 from 4:00-7:00pm. Her funeral will be held from the funeral home on Friday, June 14 at 8:30 a.m., followed by a Funeral Mass at St. Ignatius Church, Chestnut Hill at 10:00 a.m. Relatives and friends are kindly invited. Private interment in the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne, Mass.