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Who was John Arrillaga?
John Arrillaga was one of the most successful and influential real estate developers and philanthropists in Silicon Valley. He was born in 1937 in Inglewood, California, and attended Stanford University on a basketball scholarship. He graduated in 1960 with a degree in geography and started his career selling insurance. He soon switched to real estate and partnered with Richard Peery to buy and convert farmland into office space for the booming semiconductor industry and other high-tech businesses. Their partnership, Peery Arrillaga, became one of the largest commercial landlords in Silicon Valley, building over 20 million square feet of real estate over 50 years. In 2006, Arrillaga sold over five million square feet of his holdings for roughly $1.1 billion to Deutsche Bank. According to Forbes, his net worth was $2.5 billion as of October 2020, making him the 339th richest person in America.
What did John Arrillaga do for Stanford University?
Arrillaga was also known for his generous and transformative support of his alma mater, Stanford University. He donated hundreds of millions of dollars to various projects and programs across the campus, from athletics facilities to graduate student housing, as well as scholarships and fellowships for undergraduate and graduate students. He was also personally involved in the design and construction of many buildings, often working directly with university leaders, vendors, and staff. He preferred to stay out of the spotlight and made many of his contributions anonymously or in memory of his first wife, Frances, who died of cancer in 1995. He received the Degree of Uncommon Man, Stanford’s highest honor, in 2009 for his service to the university. Some of the buildings and facilities that bear his name or his family’s name include:
- The Frances C. Arrillaga Alumni Center
- The Arrillaga Family Sports Center
- The Arrillaga Center for Sports and Recreation
- The Arrillaga Outdoor Education and Recreation Center
- The Arrillaga Gymnastics Center
- The Arrillaga Dining Commons
- The Arrillaga Family Rowing and Sailing Center
- The Arrillaga Family Football Center
- The Arrillaga Family Foundation Music Center
- The Arrillaga Family Recreation Center
- The Arrillaga Family Children’s Center
- The Arrillaga Family Courtyard
- The Arrillaga Family Hall
- The Arrillaga Family Pavilion
- The Arrillaga Family Plaza
- The Arrillaga Family Tower
- The Arrillaga Family Way
How did John Arrillaga die?
John Arrillaga died on January 24, 2022, at his home in Portola Valley, California, with his family by his side. He was 84 years old. The cause of his death was not disclosed by his family or the university. However, according to some sources, he had been suffering from a long-term illness and had been in hospice care for some time. He is survived by his second wife, Gioia Fasi, whom he married in 2001, his two children, Laura Arrillaga-Andreessen and John Arrillaga Jr., and his four grandchildren.
What is the legacy of John Arrillaga?
John Arrillaga left behind a remarkable legacy of entrepreneurship, philanthropy, and service. He was a visionary who helped shape the modern Silicon Valley with his real estate development and innovation. He was a generous benefactor who transformed the Stanford campus and enriched the lives of countless students, faculty, staff, and alumni. He was a humble and hard-working man who cared deeply about his family, his community, and his university. He will be greatly missed and fondly remembered by many. According to Stanford University President Marc Tessier-Lavigne, “John’s support has been life-changing for countless Stanford students. He has also transformed our physical campus – his deep philanthropic support matched only by the gift of his time and his expertise in architecture, construction and more. I will personally miss John’s dry wit and sense of fun. I’m deeply grateful for his remarkable vision and commitment to Stanford, which will be felt for generations to come.”
