Robert John Monroe, president of the J. Edgar Monroe Foundation, passed away on March 16. He was 71.

The Monroe family donated the funding for the J. Edgar and Louise S. Monroe Library and Monroe Hall. In addition to providing financial support for Loyola, Monroe also supported Loyola and New Orleans cultural arts.

He was a member of Loyola’s Music Visiting Committee, regularly attended performances, formed close relationships with current and former faculty and took time to get to know the students he sponsored from Costa Rica, according to the program from his mass, held Wednesday at the Holy Name of Jesus Church.

Monroe served as president of the J. Edgar Monroe Foundation for 15 years, which supported a wide range of Catholic charities, such as Holy Name of Jesus Church and Chateau de Notre Dame, the New Orleans Archdiocese’s home for the elderly.

He also had an extensive philanthropic life outside of the foundation, serving as the director of the New Orleans Opera Association, The Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra Advisory Board and the LSU Department of Psychiatry Board of Advisors. He was also the former director of the Arts Council of New Orleans.

Monroe is survived by his son and daughter, his brother and sister and his six grandchildren.