(May 1, 2025) Thanks to a transformative $20 million donation, all eight California Jesuit high schools will receive a substantial gift each year to help them in their mission of Jesuit education.
The gift comes from the estate of Paul R. Salmon, who died in his Newport Beach home after suffering a heart attack at 88 on January 18, 2024.
He asked that his entire $20 million estate be used to benefit the state’s Jesuit high schools, thanks, in part, to the education he received at Loyola High School of Los Angeles, where he was a member of the Class of 1953, and at Santa Clara University, where he received his degree in business in 1957.
“He was never married and had no children,” said his attorney, Randy Wenker. “Paul appreciated the service, education and training he received at Loyola High School and felt the Jesuits had done a good job.”
At Loyola, Mr. Salmon took part in the Sodality, the California Scholarship Federation and ROTC, and his deep faith led him to continue his Jesuit education at Santa Clara, where he also took part in Sodality and ROTC as well as the Sanctuary Society. In college, he also joined the Scabbard and Blade, a military honor society.
He served in the U.S. Army in Germany for two years and continued in the Army Reserves before retiring in 1975 as a major after serving as an aide for the general of his reserve unit.
His time in the military helped shape his character. “Paul was very meticulous and well dressed and had a calm demeanor,” added Mr. Wenker. “He had a military bearing, including strong principles. He stuck to his guns and was firm about what to do and how to do it.”
Those qualities also helped him succeed in the business world. Mr. Salmon’s father, Roger, was a real estate developer, and he eventually took over his father’s business, but he also had great success as a stockbroker. He helped people in Southern California, including the actress Loretta Young, make some wise investments.
Fr. Sean Carroll, SJ, provincial of the Jesuits West Province, praised Mr. Salmon and his desire “to ensure that future generations would have access to the same transformative education he had at Loyola High School.”
Proceeds from the investments from the Paul R. Salmon Living Trust will benefit San Jose’s Bellarmine College Preparatory and Cristo Rey Jesuit High School; Sacramento’s Jesuit High School and Cristo Rey High School; Los Angeles’ Loyola High School and Verbum Dei Jesuit High School; Palm Desert’s Xavier College Preparatory; and San Francisco’s St. Ignatius College Preparatory.
“We are profoundly grateful for Mr. Salmon’s generosity and his commitment to the Jesuit mission,” added Fr. Carroll. “His legacy will continue to shape young minds and hearts for years to come.”
