Lifelong Learner Remains Lifelong Supporter

As one of thousands of alumni who have benefited from WPI’s project-based STEM education, mechanical-engineering-major-turned-innovator-and-entrepreneur Jason P. Macari ’84 recognizes the role WPI played in his successful career. With the project management experience gained at WPI, and later at Hasbro, Safety 1st, and Bard, Macari founded and currently serves as CEO for the family-owned businesses Baby Delight and Macari Development. “WPI’s project work and team-centered learning and research absolutely helped me excel in the real world. WPI also taught me there isn’t much in the world you can’t figure out if you set your mind to it,” he says.

Macari was initially drawn to WPI by the university’s reputation of high-quality education, focus on engineering and the sciences, and its relatively small size. As a student he found support in his Lambda Chi Alpha brothers, saying, “When you are in a fraternity at WPI, it really dominates your experience at the school. Your friends (many of whom I still stay in touch with), your extracurricular activities, studying—are all centered around your brothers.”

Beyond the academic and social support the university offered, WPI also strengthened Macari physically and spiritually. He loved playing intramural basketball and volleyball and says he was grateful Catholic mass was available to him during his time on campus. “I vividly remember how some of my fraternity brothers and I would drag ourselves out of bed on an early Sunday morning to attend mass together. It all tied in to being a strong community and college experience for me.”

Looking back, Macari offers, “WPI taught me how to learn, and I believe being a life-learner and working toward contributing to the world throughout your life is what keeps you connected and fulfilled; I plan on working and learning throughout my life, even if I slow down a little as I get older. I am still having fun. To me, play is work and work is play, when you enjoy what you do as much as I do.” The self-proclaimed life-learner doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon. In fact, beyond his consumer products and commercial real estate businesses the Macari family members have recently acquired Phantom Farms, which has an apple orchard, cider mill, café, and garden center, with plans to open Phantom Farms Brewery in the near future. 

Macari’s philanthropic support of the university goes back to his Class of 1984 Senior Class Gift. Since then, the positive impact of his WPI experience has led him and his wife, Martha Anne, to generously support the university over the decades, with support ranging from WPI’s Areas of Greatest Need and the Innovation Studio to their most recent gift in support of Unity Hall, which also helps to advance Beyond These Towers: The Campaign for WPI, the university’s current fundraising effort.

When asked what the Macaris hope their support will do for WPI students today and in the future, he says, “Our hope is that our philanthropic giving allows for WPI students to achieve excellence in what they pursue so they can play their part in solving the world’s biggest challenges.” As the university pursues its most ambitious fundraising endeavor yet with Beyond These Towers: The Campaign for WPI, Macari offers the following message to his fellow alumni: “Just remember how the four years you spent at WPI shaped who you are—both in the good experiences as well as the struggles you went through and how they all shaped you into who you are today.”