John A. Alogna ’62

John A. Alogna, 74, of Bethlehem, PA died November 5th, 2017. He was born in Wethersfield, CT, the son of first generation Italian immigrants, Ella Corinne Maturo and Michael Paul Alogna. He attended the Williston Northampton School in Easthampton, MA and went on to Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA. At a business conference, his father and future father-in-law realized they both had children attending schools in the same area (his future wife, Winifred (Wink) attended a prep school, Penn Hall, located in Chambersburg, PA). After being introduced by the fathers, John and Wink went on a first date, which must have made an impression on them both, as they recently celebrated their 49th wedding anniversary surrounded by family and friends. Upon his graduation and following their marriage, they moved to Philadelphia, PA where he received his MBA and Juris Doctorate from Temple University. John started his legal career with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in Harrisburg. After living and working in Pittsburgh and Williamsport, PA he and his growing family relocated to Bethlehem in 1981 when he joined the Fuller Company as Vice President, General Counsel and corporate Secretary. During his tenure, John expanded Fuller’s Legal Department, oversaw management of the international subsidiaries, and was instrumental in developing and implementing policies and procedures that had profound and lasting impacts on Fuller’s business. John was one of a handful of Fuller executives who collectively bought Fuller from GATX Corporation in 1986. He had significant involvement in every major endeavor Fuller pursued including the sale of the company on February 14 1990, to a Danish industrial conglomerate, F.L.Smidth & Co. John continued to serve as a director, senior vice-president and general counsel of Fuller (which later changed its name to FLSmidth Inc.) until his retirement in 2002. He was a long time board member and served several terms as Chairman of the Board of the Lehigh Valley Business Coalition on Health Care, which is the major voice and advocate of local employers on health care issues. He was also a long time board member of the national nonprofit People’s Medical Society where he played an active role in propelling the society to become one of the largest consumer health advocacy organizations in the U.S. Upon retirement, John volunteered with the Service Corp of Retired Executives where he advised entrepreneurs in business fundamentals. He was recognized in leading the Lehigh Valley chapter of SCORE to national distinction in fundraising. He also dedicated many volunteer hours with the Historic Bethlehem Society, serving on the Board of Trustees. In 2013, John was chosen as the Historic Bethlehem Society’s annual Honoree for his work on behalf of the organization. John’s love of discourse also led him to start multiple discussion groups with diverse groups of people, discussing current issues and the impact they had on society. His love of people, animals, and the environment drove him to work tirelessly to alleviate the pain of others. Even during his last days, his greatest sorrow was seeing others suffer. Survivors: John is survived by his loving wife Winifred; his son Forrest and wife Sandrine of Paris, France and their children (Lucy and Felix); his daughter Nora and husband Indrajit (Ed) of Goa, India and their children (Ella, Sachi, and Max); his son Michael and wife Elizabeth of Bethlehem, PA and their children (Wyatt, Reese, Quinn, and Cora); his son Alexander of Bethlehem, PA; daughter Marian and husband Alistair of Jersey City, NJ and their daughter (Lillian); and his youngest daughter Victoria of Dunedin, New Zealand; He is also survived by his best friend and brother Michael T. Alogna ’57 of Arlington, MA; and sister Patricia Reiss of Lake Forest, IL. His sister, Donna Edson of Clinton, NJ, predeceased him.

3 thoughts on “John A. Alogna ’62”

  1. My heartfelt condolences go to John’s family. He had a full and meaningful life, we can celebrate that as we mourn his death. And, we all need to make every moment count.

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