Francis Patrick DeGennaro
MS '83, Horticulture
Age: 44
Title: Manager, Agriculture & Nutrition Strategy and New Business
Development
Company: E.I. duPont de Nemours Co.
Location : Wilmington, Del.
A.K.A.: "Friar Frank" (for his activities in his church),
"Super Boiler" (for his support of Purdue athletic teams)
1. Best advice…
I learned how to manage time and prioritize my coursework. At Purdue,
my eyes were opened to a whole new world of agricultural science and
production.
2. Boiler memory…
Meeting and marrying my wife, Alyce Tower, and our wedding at St. Tom's.
I also have great memories of crisp fall Saturday afternoons at Ross-Ade
Stadium wildly cheering on the Boilers.
3. Thank you…
My mother, Edna Plescher DeGennaro, for giving me the opportunity to
attend Purdue. My father died during my senior year of high school.
As a Purdue grad, she knew a Purdue education was something special
and would be a solid foundation for a career in the food and agriculture
field.
4. Great escape…
I spend time with my family and friends building and sharing my faith.
I also love to spend time with my wife and children in the garden. Third,
I enjoy running to stay fit and relieve career stress. This is a passion
I acquired at Purdue, where I enjoyed running 5 and 10K races with my
major professor, Steve Weller.
In his words:
"For my mother to send her oldest son halfway across the country
to college was very difficult. But it was a great decision and a testament
to how much my mother valued a Purdue education."
