Al Zampa: The Man Behind the Bridge

 The Man the Bridge is Going to be Named After: The bridge is going to be named after the late, Al Zampa who was known for his work on Bay Area bridges.  Mr. Zampa was at the groundbreaking for the new  Carquinez bridge, but died several months later.  The bridge is going to be called the Al Zampa Memorial Bridge in his honor. Recently, we've had a chance to sit down with Al Zampa's grandson, Don Zampa. We made out some questions to ask him. Eventually we found out a LOT about him and his grandfather. We were so lucky to have a first- hand source who knew Al Zampa personally. 

We interview Mr. Don Zampa in our school library at Franklin.

Q: Tell us a little about yourself.

A: Don Zampa is the  3rd of generation of iron workers in his family. He works full time in the Iron Workers Union office. He's the business manager of the East Bay office. In October  1978, he started iron working. 

Q: How are you related to Al Zampa?

A: I'm his grandson.

Q: What is Mr. Zampa's full name? 

A: Alfred Zampa... he has no middle name.

Q: How old was he when he passed away?

A: He was 95.

Al Zampa at the Groundbreaking Ceremony, March 3, 2000, shortly before his passing.

Q: Tell us about Al Zampa's life before building bridges?

A: He used to work at a butcher shop in Crockett before he began to work on bridges.  

Q: How was Mr. Zampa involved in building bridges?

A: He was an iron worker in 1927, he retired when he 65 in 1972.  He was involved in building bridges in other states besides California. 

Q: What Bay Area bridges did he work on?

A: He worked on the first Carquinez Bridge, the Bay Bridge, The Golden Gate Bridge, and the second Carquinez Bridge. 

Q: What bridge project did he mostly talk about?

A: The Oakland Bay Bridge.

Q; What project was he most proud of?

A: The Oakland bridge because he was able to work with his two sons.

Q: What do you remember about your grandfather?

A: He liked hard work, he was tough and independent, he didn't like people doing things for him. He was proud of being an ironworker and he thought it was a compliment to be called an ironworker.

Q: What would your grandfather say about having  a bridge named after him?

A: He would be proud but amused. He would be embarrassed that he would be singled out from his iron working brothers since bridge building involves teamwork.

Q: How will your family be involved in the dedication of the bridge?

A: The family is arranging to have a plaque made in Mr. Zampa's honor and will participate in the opening ceremony.