Mr. Alesandro De Gregori

Alessandro De Gregori, 93, of Lenox, passed away, hand-in-hand with his wife, on September 9, 2025. He leaves the world a lesser place for those around him without his curiosity, creativity and wonderment. Alessandro was born in 1932 in Novara, Italy to Angela Boniforti and Mario De Gregori and grew up in Milan. Alessandro's passion (one of them) was design. He always had a notebook and pencil within reach. His design career began at Olivetti who sponsored his MS in Product Design from Illinois Institute of Technology. Alessandro worked at Olivetti in Ivrea with the Italian architect and designer, Mario Bellini, on office equipment design and then at Knoll International in New York City as Manager of Design Development. At Knoll in the 1970s he drew from the Mies von der Rohe archives at MOMA and collaborated with prominent modern and postmodern architects and designers to develop new products. When an Associate Professor of Design at Carnegie Mellon University he introduced his students to theory, practice, and the designers themselves in his courses on industrial design and color. Next, as Vice President of Design at Formica Corporation, in the words of the president at the time, Alessandro's "leadership gained a place for Formica in the design community." Retirement brought another master's degree on the architecture of learning environments from the New Jersey Institute of Technology, courses on photography, fine woodworking, writing, and his own designs including tables, chairs, a projector, an ice cream cart, and time to enjoy the house he designed and helped build on Swan's Island, Maine. He loved books on every subject, shopping, cooking, Suduku puzzles, boats, travel, and a good conversation. Alessandro is survived by his wife of forty-five years, Sarah Hitchcock-DeGregori of Lenox who is grateful for a life with his companionship, affection, patience, wisdom, dinners and conversation, new ideas and experiences. His daughter, Inga DeGregori of St. Augustine, Florida, recalls "not only was he funny but he always showed me love." His son, David DeGregori of Rutland, Vermont, remembers Alessandro's playfulness, as a small child being picked up by both arms and then set down in surprising places, and times fishing together. Alessandro is also survived by a grandson, Tristin Hill of St. Augustine, Florida, nieces in Milan, Italy, and nephews in New Hampshire and Massachusetts, and a sister-in-law in Connecticut. His brother and sister predeceased him. Alessandro was deeply religious and spiritual, grateful for his friends and the community at Trinity Church in Lenox. We are thankful for the caring staff at the Berkshire Medical Center and especially the Windermere Wing at Kimball Farms Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Lenox who made Alessandro's last days comfortable and his passing calm and peaceful. There will be a graveside service at Mountainview Cemetery in Lenox on Tuesday, September 16 at 1:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Alessandro's memory to Trinity Church in Lenox, or another charitable organization. To share memories and stories please visit rochefuneralhome.com

Mr. Alesandro De Gregori

June 25, 1932 - September 9, 2025