Joe Cillo ENG'62 has fashioned his life around inquiry, innovation, and inventiveness. He attended Brooklyn Tech, just a few blocks from home, then enrolled in the aeronautics program at NYU's Engineering College, at the former University Heights campus. He was the first in his family to attend college, and NYU's offer of a full scholarship—and work as a dance instructor—made his education possible. While at NYU Heights, he lived just off campus in the Psi Upsilon fraternity he joined; he still remembers fondly the camaraderie.

After the Soviet Union launched Sputnik in 1957, NYU revolutionized its aeronautical engineering curriculum by transitioning its focus to aeronautics/astronautics. Suddenly, Joe, his classmates, and professors became part of a crucial national focus on space flight and space exploration. Students in his graduating class of 13 were among the first academically trained aeronautics/astronautics engineers (that is, rocket scientists) in the U.S. Joe enjoyed the exhilaration of reinventing his studies and himself, and throughout his career he demonstrated the flexibility and curiosity that he acquired at NYU engineering.

After graduation he worked in the space program while simultaneously obtaining an MBA at UCLA, thanks to a master’s fellowship from his employer, Hughes Aerospace. The combination of his technical and business training contributed to a long, varied, and successful career, during which he created, launched, and managed a number of first-ever, high-tech products and businesses. He served as a change agent for leading-edge companies including TRW, IBM, Bank of America, and Apple before starting his own firm.

Even in semi-retirement Joe uses the latest technology tools to his advantage, creating internet businesses, including his latest: a website permitting users to share travel experiences from around the world.

Owing so much to the educational institutions that paved his way, Joe has provided for generous legacies to Brooklyn Tech, Psi Upsilon, and UCLA. And, most important, he is building on his dedicated annual giving to NYU in gratitude for the scholarship he received. Pleased that NYU has reenergized its traditional strength in science and technology by the addition of the Tandon School of Engineering—the former Polytechnic—he is establishing a named permanent scholarship fund for future generations of curious and dedicated engineering students.

"I want to help the University's Momentum Campaign for Scholarships to be successful for NYU Engineering," he says. "And I hope that my classmates and colleagues from the Heights and Tandon join me in supporting the engineers/scientists to come."

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