NEW HAVEN, Conn. – The Yale University Athletics family lost one of its own earlier this month with the passing of Joel E. Smilow '54. Joel's love of Yale Athletics, incredible generosity and unequaled support can be matched by few others, and Bulldogs both new and old will miss his consistent presence around the program.
 
"Joel was unabashed in his love for everything Yale. His active support transformed and help shape the University and our Athletic Department," said Victoria M. "Vicky" Chun, Thomas A. Beckett Director of Athletics. "I am so incredibly thankful to Joel for his tremendous generosity to Yale Athletics. We will miss seeing him at our events and watching his face light up when the Bulldogs earned a victory, but his legacy will certainly live on."
 
Joel's support includes, but is certainly not limited to, endowing Yale's head coaching positions for football, women's lacrosse, men's basketball and women's basketball, as well as two assistant coaching appointments.
 
"Joel's passion for Yale and Yale Athletics was only surpassed by his generosity," said James Jones, Joel E. Smilow, Class of 1954 Head Coach of Men's Basketball. "He was a great mentor to our young men and truly enjoyed meeting with our team annually. He will be missed." 
 
While not a collegiate athlete or coach himself, Joel was always present during preseason to speak with Yale teams on the importance of Yale's legacy and giving back to others.
 
"Our deepest sympathy and condolences to the Smilow family.  We are extraordinarily grateful to be among the many beneficiaries of Joel Smilow's philanthropy," said Erica Bamford, Joel E. Smilow, Class of 1954 Head Coach of Women's Lacrosse. "He was a beloved supporter of Yale Athletics and always impressed upon us the importance of enriching the lives of others. His legacy will have a lasting impact on all of us."
 
Joel enriched so many student-athletes' lives, not just through his constant contact and support but also through his generous donations such as the renovation and expanded the Smilow Field Center, located directly next to Walter Camp Gate and the location of the start to so many Bulldog Walks before Yale Football games.
 
"Joel was a great friend and an amazing mentor. His love for our football family was truly incredible," said Tony Reno, Joel E. Smilow, Class of 1954 Head Coach of Yale Football. "Joel's un-ending passion for Yale Football was unmatched and his legacy will live with us forever."
 
Legacy and philanthropy are two words that will be forever ingrained with Joel Smilow. It was recognized very early on that his willingness to give back to the Yale community would be a hallmark of his life, which was celebrated by the University in 1993 when Joel was awarded the Yale Medal for outstanding service. 
 
After graduation from Yale, Joel was commissioned as an Ensign in the U.S. Navy and held the rank of Lieutenant J.G. when he was discharged. He graduated from Harvard Business School in 1958 before stops at Procter & Gamble and Glendinning Associates.
 
Joel served as CEO for Playtex for 25 years until his retirement in 1995 when philanthropy became his life's main goal.
 
Joel's philanthropy began in the 1980's when he endowed Yale football's head coaching position, before becoming the lead donor for the Smilow Field Center. He went on to steward Yale's capital campaign in the 1990's and served as the treasurer and then secretary of the Yale College Class of 1954. In that role, he played a pivotal part of that class' $120 million gift to Yale, the largest class gift in university's history at that time.
 
"Joel's love and passion for Yale was felt in each and every one of our conversations. I will miss the time Joel and I would spend at Mory's to kick off each season," said Allison Guth, Joel E. Smilow, Class of 1954, Head Coach of Women's Basketball. "Our team loved his investment in them as Yale student-athletes, and we always looked forward to Mr. Smilow's annual address to our young women."
 
Joel's passion for giving back and helping others also went beyond athletics as he, along with his wife Joan, gave a transformational gift of $467 million which recreated the East Pavilion of Yale-New Haven Hospital into the Smilow Cancer Hospital in 2009. Joel and Joan also made generous gifts to the New York University Medical Center for the Joan and Joel Smilow Research Center and to Johns Hopkins for the William S. Smilow Center for Marfan Syndrome Research.
 
Smilow also was an active participant and major donor in many other different causes including: three medical institutions in addition to Yale, NYU and Hopkins; the New York Philharmonic, of which he was a director emeritus; and the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
 
Yale Athletics, which will be forever thankful to Joel Smilow, sends its love and sympathy to Joan, Joel's wife of 67 years; his children Rick (Debi), Bill (Kathy), and Susan; his grandchildren Charlotte, Anna, Griffin and Lexi, his brother Michael (Barbara) Smilow, his sister-in-law Marlene Lipman and many nieces and nephews.
 
A moment of silence will be held at tomorrow's football game vs. Penn, the first home game for the Bulldogs since Joel's passing.