PHS Student Earns Feigenbaum Scholarship

Attorney Emil George presents the award to Mark Eddy on Thursday afternoon at the Berkshire Chamber of Commerce.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Pittsfield High School graduate Mark Eddy has won this year's Feigenbaum Scholarship.

The $5,000 award is given annually to a city student who excels in engineering and technology by the Feigenbaum Foundation and General Systems Co. in conjunction with the Berkshire Chamber of Commerce. The scholarship was started by Donald and Armand Feigenbaum 10 years ago.

The Feigenbaum brothers started the engineering firm General Systems in 1968 and the South Street company has grown to become internationally recognized.

Here in the Berkshires, the Feigenbaums are known as philanthropists contributing to numerous causes but most notably donating more than $1 million to renovate the Berkshire Museum. The museum later opened the Feigenbaum Hall of Innovation in their honor.

The scholarship recipient is chosen through an interview process. Eddy was chosen this year and will be studying chemical engineering and engineering management at Rochester (N.Y.) Institute of Technology in the fall.

Eddy, son of Kenneth and Bette Anne Eddy of Elaine Drive, was the student speaker at his graduation from Pittsfield High earlier this month. A high honors student, he was awarded a number of scholarships and awards, including the Bausch and Lomb Honorary Science Award from the University of Rochester.

Donald Feigenbaum died earlier this year but the scholarship will live on. Eddy said this isn't the first time the Feigenbaums have helped him. The brothers allowed the high school to hold the science fair in the Hall of Innovation, helping many of Eddy's classmates move on to state competitions.

Eddy said he was saddened by Donald Feigenbaum's death this past March at age 87. Armand Feigenbaum a quality control expert, remains president of General Systems.

"This is just an extreme honor to receive his today," Eddy said. "I hope to make you proud in the future."

During the short ceremony, Chamber of Commerce President Michael Supranowicz said science education is more important now more than ever because of the types of jobs that will be available in the future.

Pittsfield ZBA Member Recognized for 40 Years of Service

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
12:23PM / Thursday, April 25, 2024

Albert Ingegni III tells the council about how his father-in-law, former Mayor Remo Del Gallo who died at age 94 in 2020, enjoyed his many years serving the city and told Ingegni to do the same. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — It's not every day that a citizen is recognized for decades of service to a local board — except for Tuesday.

Albert Ingegni III was applauded for four decades of service on the Zoning Board of Appeals during City Council. Mayor Peter Marchetti presented him with a certificate of thanks for his commitment to the community.

"It's not every day that you get to stand before the City Council in honor of a Pittsfield citizen who has dedicated 40 years of his life serving on a board or commission," he said.

"As we say that, I know that there are many people that want to serve on boards and commissions and this office will take any resume that there is and evaluate each person but tonight, we're here to honor Albert Ingegni."

The honoree is currently chair of the ZBA, which handles applicants who are appealing a decision or asking for a variance.

Ingegni said he was thinking on the ride over about his late father-in-law, former Mayor Remo Del Gallo, who told him to "enjoy every moment of it because it goes really quickly."

"He was right," he said. "Thank you all."

The council accepted $18,000 from the state Department of Conservation and Recreation and a  $310,060 from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Safe Streets and Roads for All program.