Statement from the Guarini Institute for International Education and Economic Mobility on the Passing of the Honorable Frank J. Guarini

The Guarini Institute mourns the passing of the Honorable Frank J. Guarini, whose vision, generosity, and unwavering belief in the power of education made our work possible.

In 2020, Frank Guarini made the transformational gift to New Jersey City University that established and continues to support the Guarini Institute for International Education and Economic Mobility. Through that extraordinary act of generosity, he created opportunities that have expanded access to education, strengthened international partnerships, and advanced economic mobility for students, families, and communities. We will always remember him for making possible an Institute dedicated to the values he championed throughout his life.

Frank Guarini embodied excellence, service, generosity, and a deep commitment to education. He believed that international engagement broadens horizons, strengthens communities, and prepares future generations to succeed in an interconnected world. His life and accomplishments continue to serve as an inspiration and a model of leadership, public service, and philanthropy.

The impact of his vision can be seen in the work of the Institute that bears his name. Through international academic partnerships, collaborations with Latin American consulates, initiatives that expand access to higher education, and innovative resources that help families facing financial hardship during health crises, the Institute has directly served students, faculty, and communities in Jersey City and across the nation.

As we honor Frank's memory, we also reaffirm our commitment to the mission he made possible. As the Institute begins its next chapter at Kean University, we will continue advancing international education and economic mobility with the values that guided Frank Guarini throughout his life serving as our north star.

On behalf of our students, faculty, staff, partners, and all those who have benefited from his vision, we extend our deepest condolences to his sister Caroline Marie, his niece Carol, and the entire Guarini family.

Frank Guarini's legacy will endure through the opportunities he created, the institutions he helped shape, and the work that continues in his name.

Adrián Franco, Ph.D.
Executive Director
Guarini Institute for International Education and Economic Mobility
afranco@njcu.edu | (201) 200-3462