June 26, 2003
Zampa Bridge Story
The new Alfred Zampa Memorial Bridge is scheduled to open in October, 2003. The bridge is named for Al Zampa, a legendary Ironworker who worked on many major California, Arizona and Texas bridges, including the Golden Gate Bridge and the Oakland-San Francisco Bay Bridge. Zampa became a member of the "Halfway to Hell" Club when he fell during the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge and survived despite multiple injuries.
Mr. Zampa passed away on April 23, 2000 at the age of 95. His legacy to the union movement and the Ironworkers Union remains. His descendants include Richard "Dick" Zampa, (Son), International Union First Vice-President, President of District Council of Ironworkers of California, Nevada, and Hawaii, and Secretary-Treasurer of the State Building and Construction Trades Council of California, AFL-CIO, Donald Zampa, (Grandson), Business Manager, Financial Secretary of Local #378, Oakland; Dick Zampa, Jr., (Grandson), Apprentice Coordinator for Local #378, Ron Zampa (Grandson), Ironworker Local #378, and Dennis Zampa (Grandson), Carpenter Superintendent, Overaa Construction.