“We had a broad-based knowledge of a lot of different subjects. We were well-rounded, educated grads.”
He spoke about his close relationships with professors who became trusted advisors. “Carmen Donnarumma was a larger-than-life man; Fairfield was lucky to have him,” Steve said. “And Professor Rick DeAngelis…I took whatever he taught, and we would go talk to him for hours. He just grounded you, no matter what was going on in your life or in school — good, bad, indifferent.”
After graduating in 1980, Steve went on to earn a law degree in 1983 and open his own law office in Hamden, Conn., in 1988. He credits his time at Fairfield with giving him the skills and confidence he needed to succeed. “The ability to look at both sides — or three sides — of every issue,” he said, “is instilled in you when you’re at Fairfield. The analytical skills and the willingness to listen and assess a situation — I think that’s what I learned the most.”
His younger brother Peter, who was a student-athlete and graduated in 1981 with a degree in business, added that Fairfield taught him how to structure his time and kept him motivated. “Between the commitment of playing on the baseball team and [earning a] Jesuit education, which is demanding,” he said, “time management was the biggest thing I walked away with.” Peter fondly remembered Father Richard Costello, his Western Civilization professor, who became a mentor to him and helped him with the rigorous curriculum.
Both Steve and Peter emphasized how their Fairfield education not only shaped their intellect, but also their sense of responsibility to the broader community. For Peter, playing college baseball underscored the importance of teamwork and perseverance, traits that have been essential as he built his insurance agency and restaurant businesses. Steve noted that after succeeding in such a demanding academic environment, he felt he could accomplish anything — a lesson in confidence he later applied to his professional endeavors.
While Fairfield University laid the intellectual foundation for the Ciardiellos career pursuits, it was their strong family bond that formed the bedrock of their entrepreneurial success. Their brew pub venture, Elicit Brewing Company, is part of Eli’s Restaurant Group — a true family business in which collaboration, mutual respect, and shared values have helped the Ciardiellos thrive in the competitive world of restaurants and beyond.
Opened in a revitalized industrial space almost 30 years ago, the flagship Elicit Brewing Company location in Manchester, Conn., includes a brewery, beer hall, cocktail bar, lounge, arcade, and restaurant. Coowned by Steve, Peter, their brother Richard, sister Paula, and longtime friend Rich Riccitelli, the owners’ ability to work together harmoniously has played a crucial role in the business’s continued growth. “We’re a cohesive group,” Steve said. “We seem to have the formula, and that’s probably the achievement I’m most proud of. We do what we need to do, in a very nice way.”
The journey that began in Fairfield University’s classrooms recently culminated in a 2024 return to Stag Country: after searching 10 to 15 years for the perfect spot in Fairfield, the Ciardiello brothers and their partners opened a second Elicit Brewing Company location on Black Rock Turnpike. And last September, they collaborated with Fairfield University to launch ’42 Brew, a special craft lager that celebrates Fairfield’s rich history and vibrant alumni community.
The newest Elicit location serves food and features a microbrewery, a 100-tap taproom, a cocktail-focused speakeasy, and a large covered back patio — providing the Ciardiello brothers a unique opportunity to connect with fellow alumni and the broader Fairfield community. “We enjoy doing it,” Steve said. We’re very happy that we’re in Fairfield. It feels like we’ve come full circle.”
