Robert Morin, a longtime librarian at the University of New Hampshire, quietly left his entire $4 million estate to the school after his death in March 2015.
Known for his simple lifestyle and love of books and movies, Morin worked at the university’s Dimond Library for nearly 50 years. His unexpected gift later sparked public debate over how the university chose to spend a large part of his fortune.
Morin died on March 31, 2015, at the age of 77. He had spent decades working behind the scenes at the library, cataloging materials and helping support the university community. Few people knew how much money he had saved during his lifetime.
The university announced the gift in August 2016, surprising students, staff and others connected to the school. Morin’s will left the entire estate to his alma mater, with $100,000 set aside for specific needs at the library where he had spent most of his career, according to CNBC.
Robert Morin spent nearly 50 years working as a librarian at the University of New Hampshire, living a quiet and remarkably frugal life.
He never sought attention, drove an old car, lived modestly, and carefully saved and invested his earnings over decades.
When Morin passed… pic.twitter.com/jPxC9gsBBZ
— Wolf of X (@WolfofX) June 1, 2026
The donation was intended to support the university’s future, including student career services and library programs. However, plans to spend $1 million on a video scoreboard at the school’s football stadium drew criticism from some alumni and members of the public.
Morin was born in Nashua, New Hampshire, on Jan. 3, 1938. He graduated from the University of New Hampshire in 1961 and later earned a master’s degree in library science from Simmons College.
He began working at UNH’s Dimond Library in 1965 and remained there until 2014. His work included cataloging DVDs, CDs and music scores, helping organize the materials used by students and other library visitors.
Despite building a multimillion-dollar fortune, Morin drove a 1992 Plymouth, rarely went out for entertainment and often ate inexpensive meals at home.
His longtime financial adviser, Edward Mullen, described his daily routine in an interview with The Boston Globe. Morin would eat Fritos and drink Coke for breakfast, have a quick cheese sandwich at the library, and eat a frozen dinner at home because he had only a microwave to prepare food.
Morin’s modest spending habits helped him save a large part of his income over the years. With guidance from Mullen, he also put money into investments, including mutual funds and annuities. He purchased several life insurance policies intended to benefit the university.
Outside his work, Morin had a deep interest in reading and movies. He watched more than 22,000 videos between 1979 and 1997. He also set himself the task of reading books published in the United States during the 1930s in chronological order, excluding categories such as children’s books, textbooks and cookbooks.
The university also described Morin as someone who cared about student workers. He often sat outside the library and talked with students, showing an interest in the people around him despite his quiet lifestyle.
After retiring in 2014, Morin lived in an assisted-living center for about 15 months. During that time, he developed a new interest in football by watching games on television and learning about teams and players.
When UNH announced Morin’s bequest in August 2016, university officials said the donation would help support several important projects.
The largest planned share, $2.5 million, was set aside to launch a larger career center for students and alumni. The center was intended to help people prepare for employment and plan their professional futures.
Another $1 million was allocated for a video scoreboard at the university’s new football stadium. University officials pointed to Morin’s interest in football during the final months of his life as part of the reason for the decision.
Morin made only one specific request about how his estate should be used. He directed that $100,000 go to Dimond Library, where he had worked for nearly five decades.
According to the university, the money would provide scholarships for students working through work-study programs, help library staff continue their education in library science and pay for renovations and upgrades to a multimedia room.
The remaining money was largely unrestricted, meaning the university could decide how to use it. Morin’s financial adviser said he trusted the school to determine where the funds would do the most good.
UNH President Mark Huddleston praised the donation in a statement, saying, “Bob’s demonstrated commitment to UNH through his philanthropy is tremendously inspiring.”
He added that the gift would allow the university to address several priorities.
However, the decision to spend $1 million on the scoreboard became the most debated part of the gift. Some alumni argued that the money could have done more for students if it had been used for scholarships, research or other educational needs.
University officials defended their approach by saying the money was being used to support the school’s priorities and new opportunities. They also argued that the scoreboard could bring in advertising revenue.
Morin’s gift remained a major contribution to the University of New Hampshire, reflecting the savings he had built over a lifetime of work.
Related: Albert Lexie gave $200,000 from shining shoes to the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh Free Care Fund; it was more than a third of his lifetime salary