One of the giants of Oregon Catholic philanthropy died in October. Al Corrado was 91. He died at home with Sue, his wife of 71 years, at his side.
An energetic man, he and Sue have been major supporters not only of Catholic Charities, but also the Archdiocese of Portland, his alma mater University of Portland, Central Catholic High School, Mount Angel Abbey, St. John Fisher Parish and other organizations.
The funeral is set for Thursday, Nov. 7, 11 a.m. at St. John Fisher Church in Southwest Portland. There is a rosary at 10:30 a.m.
One of the founders of Columbia Funds investment firm, Corrado not only gave money but spent a lot of time and energy organizing for good causes.
He was first mentioned in the Catholic Sentinel in 1950 when he was vying for a spot on the varsity basketball team at Central Catholic High School.
In 1964, he was listed among a committee who were creating spiritual retreats for men in western Oregon. Later that year, he was written up as creator of a skit at the St. John Fisher Parish dance.
In 1966, he chaired a golf tournament for Serra Club, which promoted vocations to priesthood and religious life. He became chairman of Serra by 1968.
By the early 1970s, he was chairing a gala dinner and dance for local Catholic high schools.
In the 1990s he would become chairman of the University of Portland board of regents. When his term expired in 2002, his successor Ted Winnowski would say of him, “Al Corrado is a great leader. He was very involved. He vaulted the University of Portland to a new level.”
One U.P. official said that Corrado got things done with energy and tenacity.
He and Sue established scholarships at the school. A dormitory and the dock at the new river campus was named for the family.
Also in 2002, he would chair the Catholic Charities dinner along with Sue. They have been major supporters of programs for vulnerable Oregonians and helped the agency build a new headquarters in 2010.
Corrado grew up at Southwest Fourth and Clay on the south side of downtown Portland, a neighborhood of Italian immigrants. His father owned a grocery store and tavern on that corner.
As the offices of Columbia Funds were at Fifth and Jefferson, he ended up working only a block from where he grew up.
A graduate of Central Catholic and University of Portland, Corrado’s essential philosophy was giving back to one’s community. Giving, he always said, is the way one can have an influence and make a difference in the world.
Corrado’s mentor in giving was Edwin Mayer, Sue’s father. Al and Sue started dating at age 14 and Al would watch Mayer happily write checks to charity. Mayer also insisted that the young man go to church.
Corrado did just that and impressed his pastors. The late Father Wayne Forbes once said of Corrado, “He has no need for adulation, and indeed, would move away from that.”
In 2013, Al and Sue did receive the Spirit of Holy Cross Award, a national recognition for lay collaborators of the Congregation of Holy Cross, which founded the University of Portland.
Corrado credited Catholic teachings as the core of his family’s strength.
“We’ve tried to do our part,” Corrado told the Catholic Sentinel in 1997. “If you’ve got more, more is expected of you.”
He and Sue had seven children and scores of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.