Niall Kavanagh: Duty Free

It’s easy to feel uninspired by the state of the world today, but Niall Kavanagh has a role model who reminds him of the power of generosity and compassion.

What can we learn from a man who had it all?

After a full life, I expected he would have a lot to say: Stories, lessons, and jokes. Instead, Chuck Feeney spoke through his actions. For years, the founder of Duty-Free Shoppers and philanthropist extraordinaire gave away money in secret. His philosophy was simple but profound: “Use your wealth to help people.”

Wealth is abundance. Not just money, but time, knowledge and relationships. In a culture that admires individual achievement and possessions, Chuck’s selflessness stood out. He traveled in coach, didn’t own a car or a house, and he wore a $10 Casio watch. He also gave more than $8 billion to charity, including $600 million to UC San Francisco—one of the largest donors in the university’s history.

Chuck believed that the impact of his actions was more important than the acknowledgment. And impact is profound—from supporting education and health equity to helping AIDS clinics in South Africa, peace efforts in Northern Ireland, earthquake relief in Haiti, and public-health structures in Vietnam. His life was a lesson in humility, kindness, and the extraordinary power of service to humanity.

“It’s all about people,” he often said.

As the noise of modern life competes for our attention, I sometimes struggle to focus. There’s a lot coming at us; it can be hard to see. Chuck’s vision was clear: fulfillment is found not in what we hoard but in what we share. He didn’t cling to power; he distributed it.

A longtime San Francisco resident and friend of the world, Chuck passed away in October 2023. In the end, his journey was not about the wealth he kept but the gifts he shared, inspiring us all to seek the riches of compassion, selflessness, and the joy of giving. How fitting he is now “duty-free,” having fulfilled his obligation to give to the world he so deeply cared about.

So, what can we learn from a man who had it all?

Take it from Chuck: Life is all about the people. Give yourself to them.

With a Perspective, I’m Niall Kavanagh.

Niall Kavanagh is a communications officer at a brain health research and education nonprofit. He lives in Daly City.