New Canaan Man Leaves Library $2 Million Bequest

NEW CANAAN, Conn. – James M. Creedon loved the New Canaan Library more than most. His final gift to the library is a testament to that.

Creedon, a lifelong New Canaan resident and frequent library visitor and volunteer, gave the library a $2 million bequest, the largest bequest in the library’s history.

Library Director Alice Knapp said she and other library officials were honored by the gift from Creedon’s estate. Creedon died on March 2, 2010 after a lengthy illness. Creedon had a successful career in the financial and investment industry, working for companies like AXA Equitable and Citigroup.

“It is often a surprise” when the library receives a bequest, Knapp said. “But it’s not a surprise that someone like James Creedon left us this money. He’s a strong part of the library family. He came here on a daily basis and would talk to the staff and the volunteers.”

Knapp said Creedon valued the library and explorringl ideas. “People came in and told us stories of how they remember him coming up and down South Street every day. He was very well known in town,” Knapp added.

Much of the bequest will be used to pay off a $1.5 million mortgage that the library has for a property on Maple Street, which was bought for possible expansion. The library's board of directors also will talk about using some of the funds to honor Creedon for his dedication to the library.

“We have made no concrete decisions on how it will be spent,” she said. “At this stage, we really want to find a way to properly honor James Creedon and what he valued about the library.”

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