60th Anniversary: The Spano Family

The Spano connection to Middlesex College spans generations.

Almost since the day the school opened, there has been a Spano either on the faculty, attending classes, or both.

Current English Department Chair Mathew Spano’s father, Frank, joined the staff in the mid-1960s, working his way up to Dean of Science and Engineering.

Mathew graduated from Hillsborough High School in 1986 and attended Middlesex College, earning his associate degree in 1988. By the time Frank retired after 30 years, Mathew was on staff teaching English.

“It’s funny, I used to tell him I didn’t want to be an administrator, and he would laugh and say, ‘wait until you see what opportunities arise,’ he said, adding, ‘one day you’re going to end up there [as department chair],’” Mathew recalled. “He was right.”

All three of Mathew’s siblings got their associate degrees from the College and went on to careers in the sciences. Mathew is the black sheep – or black colt in this case – opting for the study of the written word instead of chemical bonds.

Mathew’s two children also attended Middlesex College, one graduating in 2022 and the other currently in their second year in Humanities. Mathew also met his wife, Stephanie, on campus. He jokes that he tutored her in English and she helped him in chemistry.

Frank passed away in 2013. Mathew, whose office is in Raritan Hall, still passes by his dad’s old office in Main Hall frequently and thinks of his legacy.

“I have talked to my brothers about this, how the best teachers we all ever had were at Middlesex,” Mathew said, adding that the College is attracting strong students as well.

“We have had kids transfer to Princeton…we have students going to Columbia, and that’s because we have fantastic students,” Mathew said. “The Ivy Leagues are starting to realize we have some real gems here.”