News and Events - John Bridge
'57 and '63, Supports UMaine in Variety of Ways
Each time University of Maine
alumnus John Bridge gives to his alma mater he is improving upon
a family tradition.
For generations, the Bridges have been
staunch philanthropists, committed to giving generously to a
variety of non-profit organizations, four in particular: their
church, the YMCA, the hospital and the United Way.
But John decided another beneficiary
should be added to his family’s list.
“For me, education came in as number
five.”
Supporting UMaine has indeed become a
priority for the civil engineering major who earned a bachelor’s
degree in 1957 and a master’s degree in 1963. He also taught
civil engineering at the University from 1957 to 1960.
Named Maine’s Philanthropist of the
Year by the Association of Fundraising Professionals in 2005,
John was inducted into the Francis Crowe Society as a
Distinguished Engineer in 2003. His many gifts to the flagship
University span a wide range of interests.
With his brother, Dave, he gave to the
Chester G. Bridge Tennis Complex – to honor his father who
introduced his four sons to the game. John is passionate about
tennis to this day. He contributed to the Honors College which
he says “maximizes the talent” of UMaine’s best and brightest.
He established the John C. Bridge Civil Engineering
Professorship, creating a permanent commitment to quality
education at the flagship University. Most recently, he created
a two-year fellowship for a graduate student in the English
Department to write the history of Bridgecorp, the road
construction company founded by John’s great grandfather, Amos
Bridge, in 1875 in Hazardville, Conn.
“The fellowship is a way to fund the
University and the student, and to help me at the same time,”
says John, who served for more than 30 years as president and
CEO of the family business which was sold to Pike Industries of
New Hampshire in 2004. Today, John, who spends winters in
Florida and summers in Manchester, Maine, works part-time as a
consultant for Bridgecorp, visiting clients, inspecting
projects, and working with legislators to improve Maine’s
transportation network.
The story of Bridgecorp illustrates the
importance of hard work and entrepreneurship as well as the huge
changes that came about when machines began replacing man, says
John, adding that Amos Bridge would be pleased knowing his
legacy is being memorialized.
“There are eight file drawers of old
material worthy of summarizing on paper,” John says.
John credits the University not only
with giving him a strong technical background that helped him
successfully lead the family business, but also with expanding
his horizons through a broad array of general subjects –
writing, speech, and business courses -- that “prepared me for
life in general.”
Some of his fondest Black Bear memories
stem from his association with the tennis team.
John Bridge at Dedication of
the Chester G. Bridge Tennis Complex in Fall 2007
“I like to say that I was number seven
on a six-man team,” John recalls, laughing. “We had a lot of
good times. My senior year Bob Chase and I were undefeated in
doubles until the last match at Bowdoin.”
John particularly enjoyed his time as
an instructor. Teaching six classes while earning his master’s
degree made for days that were chock full – but happy and
stimulating as well.
“I had always been interested in
furthering my education, and the opportunity arose when the
University offered me a job on the faculty,” says John whose
teaching style was inspired by his former instructor, civil
engineering Professor George Wadlin.
“I loved his discipline – correcting
every homework paper for every student for every class,” says
John. ”
Busy as he was back then, John tried as
often as possible to work in a game of tennis. The courts then
were located next to Boardman Hall, the civil engineering
headquarters where he spent most of his time.
“My office was on the top floor and I
could look right out onto the tennis courts,” he recalls. “I
almost could have played between classes. I was tempted.”
Nowadays, John is free to play tennis
whenever he likes. While in Maine for the summer he enjoys using
the courts at the Augusta Country Club. He also spends time at
the Kennebec Valley YMCA, built in 2006 through a wildly
successful $10 million capital campaign that he co-chaired.
“Of course the amazing fact is that the
Harold Alfond Center for Cancer Care raised about the same
amount at the same time,” he says, referring to the new Augusta
facility operated by Maine General Hospital.
“People are growing to be more
generous.”
John also keeps busy with the Kennebec
Valley Alumni Chapter, one of UMaine’s most active alumni
groups. He has been a member for 20 years.
“I am very proud of my UMaine
connection and I enjoy talking with others who share that same
pride,” he says. “KVAC is a group of people who all love their
University. We have important common ground and want to help
UMaine be even more successful.”
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