M. Walter D'Alessio, Jr.

M. Walter D'Alessio, Jr., lover of family, good friends, Penn State and his PKA brothers, fine Italian wine and food, all dogs and cats, and Philadelphia development and design died in his home on 1 July 2024. Unusual for an avid Philadelphian, he was born a farmer's son outside Pittsburgh in a small town named Mars and grew up in the South Hills.

His experiences on the farm with his parents, whom he credited greatly for his success, taught him patience, the virtue of hard work to accomplish what you want, the ability to innovate, creativity in the midst of confusion, and a lack of fear to try new things. These characteristics were needed and valuable to bring a new approach to development in Philadelphia - a true partnership of the business community and government. They were refined with a degree in Landscape Architecture from Penn State, and a master's in City Planning from the University of Illinois. He also served in the U.S.Army.

Walt's history as a development leader has been described in many documents, but his qualities as a person remain the most prominent memories for many.

He worked with five mayors during his career - perhaps setting a record for survival in Philadelphia's political environment that underlay all the development projects over many years. Walt's focus was on getting things done, or as a colleague noted, "the willingness to make things happen" drove him. Another colleague was quoted in the Philadelphia Business Journal saying, "There hasn't been a major real estate project that hasn't had his fingerprints on it."

He helped form the base for many successful companies, job creations, and professionalism in the development world. In difficult times, a colleague noted that "He never let perfection be the enemy or get in the way of the good." As he phrased it himself, "It's just that I can see what things ought to be and can get them there." A large part of that success was that the projects were never about him - he always considered that every accomplishment was made by a team of people who had the same ideas and were willing to work to make them reality. He was blessed with a midwestern straightforward and kind way of dealing with people, and a boundless sense of humor that could ease tensions, puncture stuffed shirts nicely, and endear him to his colleagues, family and friends.

Walt loved to share information and help people achieve their goals. He mentored generations of students and professionals as they decided what jobs and roles in life were important to them for the future. He co-taught an innovative course at Wharton and in the Planning department of the University of Pennsylvania, helping students understand the realities of how to get developments accomplished in terms of politics, planning, and finance. At times, there seemed to be an almost constant stream of individuals coming to his office to ask for advice, talk over alternatives, or absorb some good life lessons. One of his memorable quotes was "Usually when you decide an issue is more complicated than right and wrong, you're wrong."

He loved owning and driving classic cars, going to antique car shows, tailoring his own golf clubs, repairing everything from lawn mowers to fancy necklaces, reading books and magazines, and planting and caring for flowers and trees. Dinner with friends at fine restaurants were always treasured events.

A favorite summer activity was enjoying his home in the Poconos, feeding deer, walking on the paths along the lake, or sitting on the high deck with his wife watching the clouds and waving treetops while sipping wine and listening to Frank Sinatra, Jimmy Buffett, and Willie Nelson. He treasured local restaurants.

He loved Italy and traveled there numerous times with both family and friends, finding his ancestors' resting places and creating new memories. He believed that it was impossible to find a bad meal in Italy.

Walt was an avid member of a group of Penn State PKA alumni who met at Happy Valley with their wives each year for Homecoming and other critical football games. For nearly 25 years they met for dinner, told stories, and caught up on each other's lives.

Initially he lived in the Roxborough section of the city, in an old stone house with space for trees, flowers, and a garden. He bought a home in Society Hill later in life, and loved walking the blocks he helped to create or improve, including the Shambles on 2nd Street and the Headhouse, the second floor of which was his first office in Philadelphia.

As father, grandfather, and great grandfather, he was famous in the family for creating large bags of unusual Christmas gifts for each individual, typically inundating them with Penn State regalia. Family gatherings for Independence Day and fireworks, birthdays, gingerbread house decoration contests, and barbecues were occasions he loved.

Words cannot capture the extent to which he will be missed by his beloved wife, Barbara Chance of Philadelphia. They were inseparable partners in life, love, and laughter for decades. He is survived by his daughter Jennifer Rodier and husband Dave, their two children Kyle Rodier (Casey) and Julia Rodier; his son Michael (Kerry Ann); granddaughter Angela Biser (Jason)
and their four children, Josh, Adelyn, Liliana, and Averie; granddaughter Amanda Alburger (Anthony) and their daughter Noa. Walt was predeceased by his first wife, Gertrude (Trudy) Weidman.

Services will be private for the family, but a Grand Celebration of Walt's Life and Legacy will be held in the early fall.

PIDC honored Walt upon his retirement, and website URLs with detailed and heartfelt remarks include the following:
WALT D'ALESSIO LEADERSHIP PERSONIFIED,  By William Kenny

 

WALTER D'ALESSIO: LEADERSHIP PERSONIFIED PIDC, By Joan Fuchsman


Condolences may be shared at www.kollerfuneralhome.com
 

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