A Gift Of A Lifetime From The Larger-Than-Life Phil St. Moritz ’61

When students and faculty stream through the new doors of the historic Reis Hall, they will surely sense a force of nature who would have most enjoyed seeing the buzz of activity. The late Phil St. Moritz '61, for whom the Center for Innovation in the completely renovated, iconic building will be named, funded the majority of this massive project. His passion for innovation, his intuitive generosity, and his love of Allegheny made the project possible.

In addition to providing the lead funding for the renovation project, his $35 million estate gift also provides operational support for the College, covering both immediate needs and creating multiple endowments.

Allegheny College Major Gift Officer Sally Barrett '92 worked with St. Moritz for many years. Barrett said, "Phil was incredibly proud to be an Allegheny alumnus and dreamed of having his name associated with a prominent building on campus. He would be deeply honored to contribute to a program that transforms lives - both at Allegheny and in the Meadville community. It is only fitting that he will be remembered for his remarkable generosity and for helping elevate Allegheny's national profile.

St. Moritz started his life of competitive spirit and service early on as a three-sport athlete (swimming, track, and cross country) at New Castle High School and then as a member of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity while attending Allegheny.

After earning his bachelor's degree in economics in 1961, St. Moritz served as a first lieutenant in the United States Air Force as part of the Strategic Air Command at Minot Air Force Base in Minot, North Dakota.

Upon returning to Pittsburgh, St. Moritz immediately embarked on a lifelong entrepreneurial quest that would eventually include not only his first corporation, St. Moritz Building Services (founded in 1968), but also St. Moritz Security Services (founded in 1982) and St. Moritz Labor Services (founded in 1997). Eventually, he expanded his reach to include his favorite pastime in Deep Creek Lake, Maryland, with the purchase of Bill's Marine Service in 2003. Under St. Moritz's guidance, all four corporations flourished both regionally and nationally and continue to be recognized as industry leaders with over 6,000 employees across the country.

The Phil Effect

There are many people across multiple generations who have a "Phil St. Moritz story." He had a gift of providing people with both encouragement and accountability, and he had a unique way of drawing vulnerability out of friends, colleagues, and even strangers, and then helping them with guidance and direction.

St. Moritz Chief Financial Officer Brian Fiscus and St. Moritz Security Services Chief Engagement Officer Leslie Schattauer worked with St. Moritz through his various enterprises for the better part of three decades. They, along with colleague John Brady '05, now president of St. Moritz Building Services, fancy themselves as the "in-house historians" of the storied company, founded by a man who loved to promote young people early in their careers, taking a chance on some arguably green talent.

I met Phil when I was 25 years old and an auditor in public accounting, and I was assigned to manage his account," Fiscus said. "Phil hired me 23 years ago as CFO when I was 29 years old to assist him in running his companies. At that point, we were less than $30 million in revenue, and now we are approximately $350 million in revenue. Phil was an inspiring leader, trusted mentor, and dear friend.

After graduating from Allegheny in May 2005, Brady initially met St. Moritz through a business relationship of his father's. "I was 22 years old and evaluating career options when he brought me into his conference room and sold me on the benefits of a privately held company," Brady said. "Phil was very proud that he was the sole stockholder of his organizations and that he made decisions without the bureaucracy and red tape that often plague publicly traded companies."

St. Moritz was demonstrably passionate about the services his companies provided, with his aim always being best in class. Colleagues agree that it showed in the urgency and care that he provided for clients and employees. Brady added, "Phil made an impact on you as soon as you met him. In his words, he was 'razor sharp!'"

"Phil saw his employees as his family, mentoring and engaging with them personally," Schattauer said. "His mantra - 'employees are our greatest asset, service is 24/7, and customers are golden' - underscored his deep-seated integrity and service focus. Even while expanding his companies, Phil always remained active in philanthropy and community service, most often helping others behind the scenes. He didn't crave the spotlight when it came to helping people and routinely did so quietly."

St. Moritz's estate gift was no surprise to those closest to him. "It was an honor to work for him for nearly 20 years, and we are so proud to continue his legacy both in business and at Allegheny, which he had such a love for," Brady said.

In the words of his jokingly self-proclaimed, in-house historians, St. Moritz's gift to the world was his drive and passion for his employees and his businesses. He was not an avid follower of professional sports and didn't particularly enjoy movies or television. He did have a unique passion outside
of his businesses though: Allegheny College.

St. Moritz reconnected with his alma mater during a 40th reunion campaign. He made it his mission to deeply understand the vision and success of Allegheny, which he called a "special place." He volunteered not only his resources, but also his time and energy, to ensure that Allegheny excelled as an educational institution. St. Moritz was interested in all details of the higher education space and how Allegheny was uniquely positioning itself to not just survive, but thrive.

Phil St. Moritz '61 Center for Innovation at Reis Hall

In the end, St. Moritz demonstrated his commitment to his alma mater, and with the support and partnership of his estate and Allegheny's Institutional Advancement team he got to know so well, it made perfect sense to connect him forever to the very idea of innovation. Together, the team of folks who loved and knew St. Moritz so well had an easy time imagining him supporting a place where future generations of entrepreneurs like himself could ideate and incubate, impacting the world around them, as he did.

Ultimately the estate provided a groundbreaking (literally) gift to Reis Hall for its renovation and reinvention as the Phil St. Moritz '61 Center for Innovation at Reis Hall. (See related story on p. 4.) By funding the renovation and transformation of one of Allegheny's hallmark buildings, Reis Hall, into a teaching and learning nexus that benefits students from all academic interests, St. Moritz is leaving his indelible mark on the future.

St. Moritz was a builder by nature - of companies, people, and communities. Investing in the "reinvention" of a historical building aligns perfectly with his lifelong passion for growth and transformation. Reis Hall's renovation mirrors St. Moritz's life story: honoring tradition while embracing progress. His contribution wasn't just financial - it was symbolic of his core values: resilience, accountability, and investment in people and purpose. These weren't buzzwords to him - they were non-negotiables.

Brady said, "Ultimately, Phil made this groundbreaking gift because it reflected the very best of who he was: a visionary, a giver, and a believer in building lasting value."

President Ron Cole noted of the gift, "We are honored and humbled that such an accomplished alumnus, through his legacy, would enable us to establish a center to ensure that Allegheny College serves as a leader at the intersection of the liberal arts and emerging technologies, leveraging our academic excellence across the curriculum to equip students for meaningful lives and careers of the future. I believe Phil would be proud that we are enlivening Reis Hall, one of the most iconic buildings at the center of Allegheny College's campus, in his name."

To friends, loved ones, and his employee family, St. Moritz was a man of character, consistency, and quiet strength. He has been described as loyal, sharp, and deeply caring.

He didn't just speak about values - he lived them every day," Schattauer said. "He had a way of making people feel seen, heard, and capable of more. Phil St. Moritz meant trust. He meant drive, honor, and generosity. He was the kind of leader who made you want to work harder, stand taller, and be better - not for him, but because of him.

Brady said, "His leadership style was rooted in empowerment, and he had a gift for spotting potential in others and helping them rise. Phil wasn't just a boss - he was a mentor, a protector, and a motivator. His standards were high, but he led by example, instilling pride and ownership in every employee."

Though he built his name in business, St. Moritz saw education as the engine of opportunity. His contribution to Reis Hall is not just a financial gift - it's a personal vote of confidence in the students and faculty who will shape the future. St. Moritz was always moving forward and being cutting edge in his terms.

The redesigned Reis Hall will reflect that same energy - bridging past and future with purpose. His life's work was about building people, creating opportunity, and leaving every place better than he found it.