The Isenberg School Remembers Harold Alfond

Mon., Nov 19, 2007
Leading philanthropist and founder of the Dexter Shoe Company Harold Alfond died on November 16 at a family home in Belgrade Lakes, Maine. In 1999, Mr. Alfond gave $1 million to the Isenberg School toward its $16 million, 47,000 square foot new building wing, which opened in 2002 and transformed the school’s image and facilities. The School named the wing the Harold Alfond Management Center, in honor of Alfond’s gift, which remains the largest to the school from a non-alumnus.

Harold Alfond founded Dexter Shoe in 1958, which thrived during the rest of the century in the face of increasing overseas competition. Dexter’s successful strategy emphasized the mass production of affordable casual shoes and boots. Dexter also became a leader in factory outlet merchandizing, by selling imperfect shoes and discontinued lines in a nationwide chain of 80 Dexter stores. In 1993, Alfond sold Dexter to Berkshire Hathaway for more than $400,000 in Berkshire Stock. He continued to lead Dexter until 2001.

Harold Alfond was Maine’s leading philanthropist in college athletics. His gifts include multimillion dollar support for the University of Maine’s Alfond Arena (basketball and hockey) and the Harold Alfond Sports Center. He also contributed $3 million to Colby College for new construction at the Harold Alfond Athletic Center. Outside of athletics, Harold and his late wife, Bibby, were leading supporters of college scholarships for shoe industry workers in Maine and of the Harold Alfond Center for Health Sciences at the University of New England in Biddeford.

Harold was a close friend of Eugene M. Isenberg, who credits his own approach to philanthropy to Alfond’s influence. “In their philosophy of giving Harold and Gene both emphasize challenge gifts and support for young people,” notes Gregory W. Powell, chairman of the Harold Alfond Foundation. “Harold believed that by creating fund-raising partnerships with communities, challenge grants make giving and receiving more meaningful.”