Sam Cristofano is a registered Civil Engineer in California and Colorado. After receiving his B.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Colorado in 1952 he worked for the City of Englewood, Colorado as Water and Sewage Superintendent and as a sanitary engineer in the California Department of Public Health. In 1957 he became an employee of the City of Santa Clara serving as Street Superintendent until 1963 and as Director of Public Works until his retirement in 1986.

As Director of Public Works for 23 years, he was responsible for nearly every aspect of the fast growing City of Santa Clara’s infrastructure including the planning, design, construction and maintenance of transportation and parking facilities, storm drainage, solid waste management, and other capitol improvements. Demonstrative of Mr. Cristofano’s capabilities were the industrial and commercial development north of Highway 101 and the rerouting of El Camino Real around Santa Clara University.

In 1974 he received an M.S. in Public Works Administration from Santa Clara University where he later taught graduate courses in Solid Waste Management and Public Works Administration and an undergraduate course in Transportation Engineering. He has also served as a long time volunteer judge at Santa Clara University’s Senior Engineering Design Project. Mr. Cristofano has authored numerous articles on infrastructure planning and design.

Mr. Cristofano continues to be active in numerous professional societies and civic organizations including the American Public Works Association, Santa Clara University Board of Fellows, and the Engineering Alumni Board. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the California Transportation Foundation and the Mission City Community Fund. He has received many honors including four prestigious awards from the American Public Works Association.