After graduating from The Cooper Union with a degree in chemical engineering in 1963, Vic DiFranco went on to a 30-year career at ExxonMobil. He was stationed in London, the Italian Riviera, and Toronto before retiring and returning to Texas where he now lives with his wife Eleanor. He’s stayed connected to the school that launched his successful career by taking part in the Houston Cooper Alumni cohort, and by making several significant gifts to support the next generation of Cooper’s students.

In 2018, Mr. DiFranco committed to a $100,000 annual donation in support of a new endowment, The Victor and Eleanor DiFranco Fund. The endowment provides incredible opportunities for students to enrich their studies, including: opportunities to participate in cultural immersion experiences while gaining professional practice experience; chances to present their research at national-level conferences, and the tools to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic in impactful ways that reflect the real-world applications of the Cooper engineering experience. The DiFrancos’ generosity allows Cooper to maintain the authenticity of the School of Engineering experience and enables a comprehensive curriculum review that will ensure our engineering pedagogy is at the leading-edge of undergraduate engineering education.

The School of Engineering spoke with Mr. DiFranco to learn more about the value of staying involved and giving to others.

How did you first become involved with Cooper?
As a young man, I was always interested in science and math. My “advisor” in high school told me of an elite college, which would be very difficult to get in to, but was worth my trying. So, I applied to Cooper Union in my senior year, and hoped for the best. I was invited to take the Entrance Exam.

Can you share one particular highlight from your involvement with Cooper?
I was chosen as a debater during my senior year at Cooper Union, to give a talk in the Great Hall. I felt honored to be speaking on the same stage as great men in American history.

What inspired you to begin giving?
It was going to be difficult for my family to afford four years of college, but everyone felt it would be worth any price. Thanks to Peter Cooper’s endowment, these worries were absent. Given my good fortune, I felt duty-bound to contribute to other worthy students to have the same opportunity that I had.

What would you say to others who might be considering making a donation?
Think how different our life would have been without the donations that enabled us to get a free education at The Cooper Union. A decision to help other young students get their education is a way to live up to the ideals of Peter Cooper. It’s a great feeling to know that you have helped someone the same way he helped you.