A University of Kansas alumnus’s gift of more than $2 million will boost faculty development in KU’s department of chemical and petroleum engineering.

John V. Bossi, who earned his bachelor’s degree at KU in chemical engineering in 1948 and died in 2015, directed the estate gift to the university, and a fund in his name has been established through KU Endowment, according to an announcement from KU Endowment.

Bossi was a World War II veteran who, after earning his degree, went on to work six years at Phillips Petroleum in Texas and Pritchard Company in Kansas City, Mo., according to KU Endowment. After his father had a heart attack, Bossi left his engineering career and took over the family farm near Arkansas City along with one of his brothers. He never married or had children.

Siblings said Bossi’s love for KU was lifelong.

“He wanted to give to KU, where it could go toward providing a quality chemical engineering education, like he had,” Bossi’s brother Jim Bossi said in KU Endowment’s announcement.

KU Engineering Dean Michael Branicky said in the announcement the school appreciated the gift.

“Support for our faculty is crucial to our success and a key component of strengthening KU Engineering,” Branicky said.