Honoring Nick Perugini, Class of 1999

It was at Bentley University that Nick Perugini first laid the foundation for a successful career at GE that would span over two decades and take him around the world. But beyond his professional achievement, it was his kindness, humility and deep connections with others that people laud. Whether through his work or his personal relationships, Perugini touched countless lives, leaving a profound and lasting impact on those who knew him.

“We continue to see how deeply committed his team members, outside partners and associates were to him,” says Perugini’s husband Jim Ryan. ”He wasn’t just working; he was building community. For Nick, family, friends and colleagues were all one and the same.”

Knowing the impact the Bentley experience had on Perugini, his family decided to partner with the university to create a lasting legacy. The family established the Nick Perugini ’99 Memorial Scholarship Fund to benefit high-performing students with a strong record of service, planning to study computer information systems. 

“There was such an outpouring of love and support when Nick died,” says his father Nick Perugini Sr. “Our family always knew how truly special he was, but we may not have grasped how many lives he truly touched.”

“We knew we needed to find a way to honor both his memory and to celebrate his life,” adds his mother, Mrs. Perugini. ”Giving back and mentoring others was such an important part of Nick’s life.” 

The scholarship quickly drew the support of many people who knew Perugini, with more than 100 family members, friends and colleagues contributing to the fund. As an endowed fund, the scholarship will honor Perugini’s memory in perpetuity and provide essential scholarship aid to students year after year.

The first beneficiary, Stephanie Jarquin ’27, received the scholarship this winter. Along with sharing Perugini’s area of study, Jarquin is committed to service, volunteering as a peer mentor for first-year students; fundraising to support mental health well-being for young adults and for Alpha Kappa Psi Business Fraternity; and promoting campus opportunities for all students through her work with La Cultura Latina.  Jarquin is the first of many students who will benefit from the family’s partnership with Bentley. 

“I am inspired by Nick’s journey at Bentley and honored to receive this scholarship. As a first-generation student, this support is incredibly meaningful—it recognizes my hard work, honors my mother’s dedication to my education, and allows me to focus more on my studies and future goals.”

Perugini, also a first-generation student, grew up in the arms of the large extended Perugini family in Watertown, Connecticut. His mother Linda was a nurse, and his father Nick, a carpenter. The couple emphasized the importance of education and hard work as a path to a fulfilling career. Perugini took these values to heart, setting himself apart as a standout student interested in studying technology and business.

“Nick always set his sights on excelling and was his own best motivator,” says Mrs. Perugini. “He led the way for our family and for his younger brother Eric, who looked up to him always and followed in his footsteps to college a few years later.”

Perugini joined GE in 1999, after serving as an intern in his senior year at Bentley. At GE, he quickly moved up the ranks, filling increasingly responsible, mission-critical roles and traveling the world. He eventually ascended to the C-suite, becoming CIO of corporate functions and capital technology at GE headquarters. 

It was in that role that Nick faced some of the greatest challenges of his career: managing the technological demands of the COVID crisis and helping to guide systems changes as the company prepared to split into three standalone companies. He is remembered not only for his effectiveness, but also for his distinctive leadership style. Colleagues recall that he prioritized listening, empathy and connection, fostering a supportive environment grounded in trust. Whether in moments of growth or during difficult times, Nick's focus was always on the people he led and worked alongside.

“Change is inevitable, and times when the unknown looms large,” says longtime colleague Shannon Whorton, vice president of IT Business Development and Corporate CIO. “Nick wasn’t afraid to talk openly about his own uncertainty, creating a safe space for others to voice their own concerns without fear of judgment or reprisal,” she says. “He led through connection.” 

As a leader, Perugini also believed that embracing a diversity of perspectives and valuing contributions from individuals of all backgrounds was the key to driving business innovation. And he dedicated his time and energy to that principle, serving as digital technology diversity and inclusion leader at GE Corporate and as operating leader of GE's Pride Alliance — a group of 3,200 employees spanning 20 countries.

“Nick was a mentor, a caring leader and an advocate for the value inherent in creating a diverse workplace,” says Brian Shield ’85, chief technology officer of the Boston Red Sox. Shield served with Perugini on the governing bodies of Boston CIO and Evanta, global, peer-based organizations that bring CIOs together to connect, share insights and learn from one another. “He was especially focused on fostering the next generation of talent at GE,” says Shield.

Throughout his life, Perugini was admired for his innovativeness, leadership, humility, mentorship and unwavering commitment to family and friends. The Nick Perugini ’99 Memorial Scholarship celebrates this legacy and extends the remarkable influence he had on all those who knew him.

“He always prioritized others — family, friends and colleagues,” says Ryan. “He rarely spoke of his own accomplishments, instead focusing on creating a space for others to shine.”

If you would like to honor the memory of Nick Perugini, make a gift to the Nick Perugini Memorial Scholarship Fund.