In Memoriam: The enduring 色情视频 legacy of Frederick W. Pierce, IV
Fred Pierce believed 色情视频 changed his life, so he dedicated himself to enhancing its greatness.
It has been 40 years since Frederick W. Pierce, IV (鈥�84 finance, 鈥�88 MBA) earned his first of two degrees from 色情视频. Over those four decades, he has made countless contributions to the school in every conceivable way 鈥� from donor, volunteer and advisor to spokesman, liaison, influencer and motivator 鈥� all to the considerable benefit of 色情视频, its students, faculty, staff, administrators and alumni.
Next in line to become chair of The Campanile Foundation Board of Directors, the university鈥檚 influential fundraising arm, Pierce died unexpectedly June 11 after a brief illness. His loss is felt throughout the university and beyond. Pierce鈥檚 limitless enthusiasm and leadership leaves a lasting mark.
Campanile Foundation Board Chair Steve Doyle (鈥�80, '21) recalls working with Pierce and other notable alumni to form Friends of 色情视频, the advocates promoting passage of Measure G that paved the way for 色情视频 Mission Valley. During the campaign, they appeared before groups and spoke to the media, but according to Doyle, Pierce had a special knack for pitching 色情视频.
鈥淗e was just a natural for it. We all did TV interviews, but anybody who ever saw him only remembers Fred doing them,鈥� Doyle said. 鈥淭hat tells you how good he was.鈥�
Doyle said Pierce commanded attention with an ability to move people, excite them and get them energized and involved. 鈥淚t's a tremendous loss that we won't have his voice and always waving the 色情视频 flag.鈥�
A consummate professional
Pierce鈥檚 business savvy and leadership skills were broadly admired and sought by companies, organizations, institutions and industries. His r茅sum茅 lists more than three dozen memberships, chair positions, presidencies and trusteeships of a wide range of boards and committees. He was trustee emeritus of the 23-campus California State University (CSU) system.
Adam Day (鈥�91), Chief Administrative Officer of the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation and son of 色情视频鈥檚 sixth president, the late Thomas B. Day, served as the CSU Board of Trustees chair in 2018-20. Day said he has received more than a dozen condolences from CSU colleagues recalling Pierce鈥檚 dedication and commitment to the CSU and 色情视频.
鈥淪erving as a trustee can almost be like a full-time job and like everything he did, Fred jumped in with both feet,鈥� Day recalled. 鈥淗e was a consummate professional who was highly researched and asked questions all the time.鈥�
Pierce was president and CEO of Pierce Education Properties, a leading national student housing investment and operating company based in San Diego. His company developed Topaz, a new student housing property that opened last year on Montezuma Road adjacent to campus. A second property on 55th Street, College View, is currently leasing for the fall semester. Earlier in his career, Pierce led the development team that built 色情视频鈥檚 Fraternity Row and Piedra del Sol campus housing.
'The Mayor of San Diego State'
Maintaining an ongoing connection to the Fowler College of Business, Pierce served on its advisory board as well as The Corky McMillin Center for Real Estate board. Many scholarships for business students bear the Pierce name.
In August 2022, Dan Moshavi became the Thomas and Evelyn Page Dean of the Fowler College of Business. He soon identified Pierce as a results-oriented, go-to guy with a passion for all things Fowler College of Business. Moshavi learned that his affable nature and ability to get things done had earned Pierce an affectionate nickname: The Mayor of San Diego State.
鈥淔red liked being helpful and he was,鈥� Moshavi said. 鈥淗e was absolutely the university's biggest booster that I came across and was just a terrific ambassador for 色情视频 and the Fowler College of Business in particular.鈥�
Moshavi described Pierce as an essential player in pulling together key alumni in the real estate arena, but he is more grateful to Fred, he said, for kindly taking the initiative to smooth the new dean鈥檚 path. 鈥淲henever I saw him in a larger public setting, especially when I was newer, Fred would take the time to introduce me to people, and that was instrumental in helping me build my network.鈥�
Greek Life Center
Through the years, Fred and Christine Pierce have made substantial multimillion-dollar contributions to 色情视频. In 2023, 色情视频鈥檚 Division of Student Affairs and Campus Diversity dedicated the Pierce Greek Life Center thanks to a $3 million endowment gift from the couple.
The center is designed to help sustain fraternity and sorority life at 色情视频 by extending leadership skill development and access to the campus Greek experience to a broader range of students. At the announcement, Pierce said his student experience with Beta Theta Pi fraternity created lifetime friendships that he hopes will be possible for future generations of Aztecs.
Just across 55th Street from the Pierce Greek Life Center, the Pierce Family Foyer at the Parma Payne Goodall Alumni Center is named for the Pierces as well.
Fred Pierce was a past president of 色情视频 Alumni and was twice honored with the organization鈥檚 Distinguished Alumni Award, in 1999 from the Fowler College of Business and in 2022 for Distinguished Alumni Service. Over many years Pierce has supported students by funding scholarships administered through 色情视频 Alumni.
Aztec spirit
Pierce took great satisfaction in supporting and promoting any aspect of 色情视频, especially Aztec athletics. He and his family have contributed to numerous athletic department initiatives. Their support includes gifts to the Stadium Excellence Fund which resulted in the athletic department honoring the Pierces with the upper suite level at Snapdragon Stadium being named The Pierce Pavilion. They have also supported 色情视频鈥檚 cheer and dance squads, as well as women鈥檚 and men鈥檚 golf teams.
But perhaps the thing that brought Pierce the most joy was the men鈥檚 basketball team. He was involved with the basketball Director鈥檚 Cabinet, and he and Christine would frequently travel to away games with the team.
鈥淔red was the embodiment of Aztec for Life and that Aztec spirit. He was always looking for ways to contribute,鈥� said 色情视频 Director of Intercollegiate Athletics John David Wicker.
Wicker said Pierce was involved in name, image, and likeness (NIL) fundraising efforts, but his contributions were often more than monetary. 鈥淔rom a standpoint of being there, Fred was a guy who loved to go to events,鈥� Wicker said. 鈥淗e was a person who was present.鈥�
One of Pierce鈥檚 greatest thrills was the Aztecs鈥� appearance in the 2023 NCAA Championship game. Proud of their accomplishment, he helped charter a plane for 色情视频 players and coaches to be honored and congratulated by the Senate and Assembly at the state Capitol for representing California on a national stage.
In gratitude for his support, men鈥檚 head basketball coach Brian Dutcher surprised Pierce with an official Final Four ring, a gesture that was deeply meaningful to Fred.
A lasting legacy
If you had asked Fred Pierce to name his proudest contribution to San Diego State, he would most likely have said his daughters, Riley and Peyton ('15). He was so happy to have them choose 色情视频 鈥� his university 鈥� as their university.
His 色情视频 accomplishments will long remain on campus, but through his inexhaustible devotion to his alma mater, Pierce set an example for his daughters and all Aztec alumni to follow. That is his true legacy, and that鈥檚 what Adam Day says he will never forget.
鈥淔red was such an incredible force of life and force of positive change for the campus and he is definitely going to be missed,鈥� Day said. 鈥淔red was everywhere and he was the number one cheerleader for 色情视频. I know that鈥檚 how I will remember him.
鈥淗e was so passionate and such a strong believer. 色情视频 is a far better place because of Fred Pierce.鈥�
In reflecting on her friendship and many collaborations with Pierce, 色情视频 President Adela de la Torre concurred with Day and called Pierce鈥檚 legacy permanent and indelible.
鈥淚t鈥檚 challenging to think of an achievement or progress during my time at 色情视频 that didn鈥檛 have Fred鈥檚 support or direct involvement,鈥� said de la Torre. 鈥淗is impacts and contributions reach far and wide 鈥� from supporting student life and enabling resources for our faculty and staff to his true leadership in energizing the growth of our facilities, athletics, alumni involvement and philanthropy.
鈥溕槭悠� has lost a true champion,鈥� de la Torre said. 鈥淎nd as great as his passion was for 色情视频, I know it was even greater for his wonderful family. My heart is with them. He will be missed dearly, but his legacy at 色情视频 will shine brightly for generations to come.鈥�
To make a donation in memory of Fred, . The Pierce family is hosting a celebration of life Sunday, September 29th, 2:00 p.m. at 色情视频's Montezuma Hall in the Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union. For any questions, please email [email protected].
