Ben Garfink
An alumnus and mentor who graduated from Wentworth more than a century ago will be honored this year thanks to the lead gift from Don Champagne, MED ’62 (inset).
Don washed dishes and worked as a cashier under Ben Garfink, MC&TD 1914 (far left), in the Wentworth cafeteria in the early 1960s. Ben, who was on a first-name basis with everyone, was extraordinarily generous with both his money and time. He routinely overpaid Don, and dispensed valuable life lessons to his student workers.
Don’s experience working for Ben was so profound that he and his wife, Mabel, made a gift that will go toward naming the café in Beatty Hall after Ben. Don hopes that fellow alumni will also contribute between now and June 30 with the goal of dedicating the space later in 2018.
Don Champagne
“Ben didn’t talk a lot, but when he did, he spoke of the ethics of business and how to properly conduct yourself,” Don says. “Other people at Wentworth guided me—professors certainly—but never anyone as much as Ben.”
According to Don, Ben was successful in Boston real estate and didn’t work at Wentworth out of financial necessity, but he returned to campus because he loved mentoring students. Don hopes that the naming of the café will inspire future generations to know the name of the man who greatly shaped his success in life.
“It’s a special culture, a very good place,” Don says of Wentworth, “and it’s because of people such as Ben.”
For more information, please contact estesschwartzc@wit.edu or
617-989-4255.
–Greg Abazorius
