Charles Alberto ’55 (1933-2022)
Thursday, February 3, 2022
Charles Alberto was a Seton Hall alumnus and beloved benefactor who, together with his wife Joan, made possible the establishment of the Charles and Joan Alberto Italian Studies Institute in 2003.
Charles attended Seton Hall Prep and Seton Hall University all while commuting and holding several jobs to support his pursuit of a business degree. Following graduation, he served as an Army sergeant before beginning his financial career at Prudential.
Charles Alberto was the epitome of the self-made man. He began his first business, Form Cut Industries, at the age of 28. The Newark-based company is an important producer of precision-formed parts for consumer products, automotive, aerospace, and medical supplies. Form Cut has received various awards of recognition from major companies in the electronics industry. Following his success with Form Cut, Charles and Joan purchased Forest Lodge, a 50-acre recreation, picnic, and corporate facility in Warren. The companies are now managed by his sons, Charles III and Steve Alberto. Seton Hall recognized and honored Charles for his success in business and industry by inducting him into the Entrepreneur Hall of Fame in 2012.
Charles is the past president of the Orange/West Orange Chapter of UNICO (Unity, Neighborliness, Integrity, Charity, Opportunity) and was honored with the UNICO National Humanitarian Award in 2004. Additionally, he served as an advisor to several corporate and charitable boards. Passionate philanthropists, Charles and Joan established the Alberto Foundation and made many generous contributions over the years to a variety of religious, charitable, and educational institutions, including Seton Hall. In recognition of his dedication and continuous generosity, Seton Hall and the University Libraries presented Charles with the 2010 Many Are One Alumni Service Award.
Charles' Italian heritage and strong ties to Seton Hall led him to establish the Charles and Joan Alberto Italian Studies Institute. The Alberto Institute centralizes Seton Hall's Italian-oriented programs and serves as an umbrella for the many activities relating to Italian and Italian-American history and culture. In memory of his father, Charles Sr., who emigrated from Oporto, Portugal, the Albertos created a fund to purchase library books on Portuguese and Portuguese-American history and culture. They also established the Charles and Joan Alberto Scholarship Fund to provide students with financial aid.
Gabriella Romani, Professor of Italian and Director of the Alberto Italian Studies Institute, commenting on his legacy, said: "Charlie Alberto was one of the nicest people one could wish to interact with, a generous philanthropist who understood the value of education and who was always willing to help students. What an enduring legacy he left at Seton Hall!"
The Seton Hall community mourns his passing, even as solace is taken in the fact that his remarkable legacy lives on through his family and the impact his life's work has had within and beyond the campus of his alma mater.
Categories: Alumni
