Former Alfred University trustee Frederick Gibbs ’54 passes away

Alfred University alumnus and former Board of Trustees member Frederick W. Gibbs ’54 passed away Tuesday morning (Jan. 4, 2022) in Charlotte, NC. He was 89.

Fred, who graduated from Alfred University with honors in 1954 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science, was elected to the University’s Board of Trustees in 1980. He was an active member of the Board until 2018, serving on the Academic Affairs, Audit (chair), Executive, Finance, Strategic Planning and Student Affairs committees.

“Fred was a distinguished and generous alumnus, iconic member of our Board, and stalwart advocate of promoting the student experience at Alfred University,” said Greg Connors ’92, chair of the Board of Trustees.

After graduating from Alfred University, Fred served for two years in the U.S. Marine Corps, earning the rank of first lieutenant. After his service in the Marines, he held various management positions with the New York Telephone Company until 1965, when he began his career with IT&T Telephone Operations in South America. He retired as executive vice president of IT&T in 1986. After retiring, Fred earned a law degree and became a practicing attorney with his own firm, Frederick W. Gibbs & Associates.

Fred was a generous supporter of his alma mater, and was a member of Alfred University’s Society of Benefactors. His philanthropy supported the Gibbs Endowment for Athletic Excellence, which supplemented salaries for coaches in the University’s intercollegiate athletic program—for several years, this funded the salary of an assistant men’s basketball coach; and the Gibbs Career Placement and Research Program Quasi Endowed Fund, which supports research efforts relative to experiential learning—funds are used to hire Alfred University students to coordinate the process of identifying internship and co-op opportunities, to cover travel and for office supplies at the discretion of the Director of the Career Development Center.

In addition, Fred’s philanthropy supported renovations to the Gibbs Fitness Center (named in his honor) in the McLane Center, the Steinheim/Career Services Library, the Fasano Memorial Scholarship, and the Alfred Fund.

As an Alfred University undergraduate, Fred was a member of the varsity football and wrestling teams. He was a brother of the Klan Alpine fraternity and class president. In 1993, he was inducted into the Alfred University Sports Hall of Fame.

At the time of his passing, Fred lived in Millsboro, DE. He had three children from his marriage with Janice J. (Jarvis) Gibbs ’55: Michael, Robyn, and Matthew ’86. Fred’s nephew, Tim R. Gibbs ’70, ’78 M.S., and niece, Jennifer D. Lopez ’05, are also Alfred University alumni.