https://www.rutgers.edu/news/85-engineering-student-rutgers-oldest-grad-ever
Welcome to the REA our “newest-oldest” alum, Tom Maniscalco!
“Now at 85, Maniscalco, of Garfield, N.J., is earning a master’s degree in engineering, becoming Rutgers’ oldest graduate ever.”
This spring, Rutgers University celebrated a truly remarkable milestone: 85-year-old Tom Maniscalco walked across the stage to receive his master’s degree in engineering, making him the oldest graduate in the university’s history.
Tom’s journey with Rutgers began in 1957, when he first enrolled as an undergraduate. Life took him in a different direction, and although he earned degrees from NYU and NJIT, a degree from Rutgers remained unfinished business—especially because it had been his late father’s dream for him to graduate from the school. After retiring in 2019, Tom returned to Rutgers as a “special student,” taking one course at a time until he completed the requirements for a master’s degree.
For Tom, this wasn’t just about academics—it was about legacy. “This is closure,” he said. “It’s for my father. I’m back where I started.”
Even now, Tom remains active and engaged, studying topics like aerodynamics and classic aircraft while serving as vice chair of the North Jersey chapter of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. His story is a powerful reminder that it’s never too late to learn, grow, and honor the dreams that shaped us.