Son Honors Father’s Philanthropic Wishes at WPI

Jeff Koehl seriously considered attending WPI to follow in the footsteps of his father, Hans Koehl ’56. Even though he enjoyed science and engineering, he wasn’t sure traditional engineering was his life’s path. “While I always felt connected to WPI—even as a child—and I wanted to become a legacy student, I ultimately made the difficult decision to attend Brown University and study biomedical engineering—much to my father’s dismay.” Besides, biomedical engineering was not a major at the time he was applying.

“The curriculum at WPI has expanded greatly over the last 30 years,” he says. “If sciences and other engineering curriculum like biomedical engineering were available at WPI when I was applying, I definitely would have picked WPI over Brown.”

Following a career in engineering, Koehl assumed the reins of SPIROL (his family’s company) when he was 35 years old. Founded by his grandfather in 1948, the company was based on an industrial product idea his grandfather developed while under contract with the U.S. Air Force. He’d been brought from Germany to work on jet engines toward the end of World War II, and although the U.S. government did not use his idea for a specialized fastener, he patented the product and the machinery to manufacture it.

Over the past 20 years, Koehl has worked his way from general manager, president, and CEO to his current position as CEO/chair. “Over my career at SPIROL I have continued to work on developing products and bringing our engineering/solution consulting approach to a broader set of international customers,” he says. Currently, SPIROL has a global presence in 11 countries with either manufacturing or distribution centers, and serves a majority of the Global 500 manufacturing companies.

Offering credit for the company’s success to his father and WPI, Koehl says, “SPIROL would not be where it is today without Hans Koehl, and Hans Koehl would not have been the man he was without WPI. Worcester Poly Tech helped develop and structure my father’s keen intellect, foster his curiosity and discovery, and develop the social skills he used to navigate life.

“He was drawn to WPI’s technical reputation, and in WPI he found a technical and supportive community that challenged both his mind and his social boundaries. WPI was not simply the place where he studied, but where he became the man that would later do great things—both in his career and through the philanthropy—that his professional success allowed.” Koehl adds, “My father’s WPI experience was exceptional; he would often credit WPI with helping nurture his disciplined approach to problem solving.”

When asked about his affection for the university and generous philanthropic giving in honor of his father, Koehl says, “My family’s obsession with education and accessibility to education originated with my grandfather, who, coming from a modest family, paid for his education by working in a coal mine. My grandfather ingrained in his children that the way to advance was through education, and he paid the tuition for each of his three children.”

Reflecting on the university, Koehl says, “WPI is a dynamic academic institution that continues to lead with research on technical–and even less technical–subjects. It continues to foster and develop great technical minds. Yet, what excites me the most is WPI’s focus on developing not only strong technical leaders but also well-rounded individuals.” He notes the IQP program in particular exposes students to a broad range of cultures and societal challenges, and is a testament to the university’s commitment in this area.

“Creating the scholarship fund to help students from Northeast Connecticut attend WPI was a way for my father to give back for all he was given. He had a total lifetime giving goal to which he was steadfastly committed. Unfortunately, he did not live long enough to achieve this goal, and the amount left in his will, which he intended to complete his objective, fell short. Therefore, this final posthumous contribution is to honor my father’s legacy, honor his contributions to SPIROL, and allow the fund to achieve its goal of sustaining scholarship grants in perpetuity.”

As Beyond These Towers: The Campaign for Worcester Polytechnic Institute continues its mission to support and enhance the university, this gift supports both student scholarship and that all students feel a sense of belonging and support in their quest for excellence on The Hill.