James Alfieri ’59 remembers himself at WPI as an “average student, from modest means, who loved to have a good time.” The civil engineering major recalls with gratitude the financial support he received while as a student, even if he does not have fond memories of mechanical drawing—“the only course I did not pass.” He worked for two years in the maintenance department, received loans, and was employed in the soils lab.
Loyal WPI donors, Jim and his wife Janet have been giving to WPI for 34 consecutive years. They joined the Alden Society in May 2017 when they informed WPI that the university was a beneficiary of an insurance policy. The process was simple. They filled out a new beneficiary designation form for their insurance policy leaving the benefits to WPI.
“Janet and I joined the Alden Society for the simple reason that I worked hard at WPI to make the grade but WPI worked even harder for me,” says Jim. “Financial support and the help of some great professors got me to graduation and beyond. I’ve enjoyed a fulfilling professional and personal life and I give much of the credit to my time at WPI.”
Jim went on to a successful career with the California Division of Structures. He worked on the Golden Gate Bridge and many other highprofile projects in the San Francisco Bay Area region of which he is very proud. Today he enjoys time with family and is a long-distance runner, especially with Team in Training whose members take on endurance challenges around the world raising money for cancer research. He has raised close to $80,000 and attributes much of his success to his relationships with WPI friends and his fraternity Theta Chi.