B. Patrick Madden – 50th Reunion Essay

B. Patrick Madden

258 Newton Road

Woodbridge, CT 06525

bpatrick.madden@gmail.com

203-605-9804

Spouse(s): Deborah Russell Whitlock (1969)

Child(ren): Katie (1977), Betsy (1979), Robert (1985)

Grandchild(ren): Maeve, Conor, Macy Jane, Laurel, Téo, Alessandro

Education: University of New Haven, MBA, 1973

National Service: Connecticut Army National Guard, E-5, 1970–1976

Career: Forty years in Connecticut Banking Industry. Last fifteen as head of Advest Trust Company. Many interesting moments in local politics including serving as Town Chairman, Moderator of a number of elections, and a term as State Senator.

Avocations: Golf, Tennis, Drawing, Yale Club of New Haven, Local Politics, Traveling with Debbie

College: Morse

Coming from a small mill town in Ohio to a place like Yale thrust me into situations where I came face to face with who I was and who I wasn’t. I began to understand my special qualities and shortcomings. There wasn’t any place to hide and plenty of opportunities to be tested. I found out quickly that I was never going to be like Don Galligan with all 800s on the SATs, Richard Tedlow with his generous spirit, encyclopedic mind, scathing wit and appreciation for Wagner (although some of this did rub off or, rather, was pounded in), or Brian Dowling with that amazing presence on the football field; but I did come to appreciate that I had better enjoy them because I wouldn’t always have the opportunity to associate with people like my Morse College friends, teammates, and Beta brothers. Like my family now, it was a rich mix of different people.

I did some things during my Yale years and the ensuing years of which I am proud and some things of which I am not, and in the process, have learned a great deal about myself. This all started at Yale. I was fortunate to have some good friends who looked out for me, to have been part of several things that were very special, and to have had some successes to mix in with the few disappointments. I took some risks and was rewarded. I have won and lost elections, been promoted and been fired. I found ways to contribute to my family, my employers, my communities, and to Yale. Sometimes I realized later that I wished I had been smart enough to recognize an opportunity when it had presented itself. One opportunity that I was smart enough to recognize was the chance to marry Debbie Whitlock. She has been a wonderful partner and the light of my and our family’s life for over 50 years. So, I guess I learned something important during those four years at Yale.