(This story first appeared in the Andrew Carnegie Society News, Spring 2005.)
The presentation of the 2005 Andrew Carnegie Society (ACS) Recognition Award to Thomas A. (E'55) and Eileen Cerutti McConomy (MM'56) was a highlight of the Andrew Carnegie Society's 33rd Dinner Celebration.
The award is given annually to an individual or couple for their outstanding commitment to the advancement of Carnegie Mellon University. Recipients are honored for their volunteerism and philanthropic spirit, their professional achievements that bring prestige to the university, and for supporting the mission and values of the Andrew Carnegie Society.
The McConomys join a distinguished group of previous awardees, including Herbert A. (H'90) and Dorothea P. Simon, Philip Chosky (E'48), Walter J. Blenko Jr. (E'50), Maxwell H. (E'39) and Gloria (HA) Connan, and William (E'40) Goldsmith.
Tom and Eileen, devoted members of the Carnegie Mellon community, are involved in numerous leadership, fundraising and university advancement efforts.
Tom, a past chairman of the Carnegie Mellon Board of Trustees, served on the Chemical Engineering and CIT Advisory Boards, and was a Reunion Chair for his class. Currently, he is vice chair of the university's new capital campaign and serves on the Executive, Nominating, and Research and Technology Commercialization committees of the Carnegie Mellon Board of Trustees.
He and Eileen co-hosted two President's Weekends and served as co-honorary chairs, Steering Committee members and active volunteers for the Carnegie Mellon Centennial Campaign.
They established a McConomy Scholarship, the Mehrabian Professorship, an endowed libraries book fund and donated McConomy Auditorium in the University Center. They have also made major gifts to the Chemical Engineering Labs, the President's Residence, the Educational Enhancement Initiative and the University Libraries.
The Thomas A. and Eileen (Cerutti) McConomy Andrew Carnegie Society Endowed Scholars Award in Fine Arts is awarded annually to two of Carnegie Mellon's best and brightest undergraduate students through the ACS Scholars program.
Eileen, a former teacher, was a long-time member of the Andrew Carnegie Society Executive Board and served as chair of the ACS Scholars Selection Committee. She participated in the Margaret Morrison Carnegie College History Project, and is currently chair of the 2006 centennial celebration for Margaret Morrison Carnegie College.
Tom, now a private investor, is chairman of the board and co-founder of Calgon Carbon Corporation—the world's largest manufacturer of granular-activated carbon. He served as chairman of the board, president and CEO from 1998 through 1999, and as president and CEO from 1985-1994. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of Equitable Resources.
Tom continues to serve on the boards of PNC Bank, PNC Bank Foundation, Equitable Resources, Inc., the Pittsburgh High Technology Council, the Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce, Junior Achievement of Southwestern Pennsylvania and the United Way of Allegheny County.
He has received the Pittsburgh Man of the Year Award for Business and Labor from the Vectors of Pittsburgh, the William Metcalf Award for Outstanding Achievement in Engineering from the Engineers Society of Western Pennsylvania and the Junior Achievement Gold Leadership Award.
Eileen is a member of the PNC Bank Foundation Board of Directors.
In recognition of their generosity and service to Carnegie Mellon, Tom and Eileen jointly received the Andrew Carnegie Philanthropic Award and they individually are past recipients of an Alumni Service Award.
Tom and Eileen’s daughter, Karen McConomy, and son-in-law, John Bugos, are 1992 graduates of Carnegie Mellon's Tepper School of Business.
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