He graduated from high school in nearby Hurley, Wisconsin, and went on to earn his bachelor's degree from Whitewater State College (now the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater), in 1928.

Over the previous few years, Alfonsi had also studied law at the University of Wisconsin and in the offices of Richard C. Trembath, but did not complete his legal education after his war service.

[10] After serving at several domestic bases through 1943 and 1944, he was commissioned a second lieutenant and assigned as a public relations officer at Fort McCoy in Wisconsin in the summer of 1945.

[14] After the 1946 elections, Alfonsi was appointed a public relations officer for the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs, and served in that role until the fall of 1847.

[16] In 1950, Alfonsi attempted another return to politics, launching a primary challenge against incumbent Republican state representative Clarence W. Gilley in the Florence–Forest–Oneida district.

After Republicans lost the majority in the 1964 election, the former speaker Robert Haase took over the office of minority leader, but resigned in October 1965 to become state insurance commissioner.

Ultimately, in June 1966, the investigation resulted in an indictment against Alfonsi and another Republic state representative, Willis J. Hutnik, for receiving bribes.

[30] Less than a month later, Alfonsi was convicted by a Dane County jury on charges that he accepted about $100 of travel and lodging expenses associated with official appearances.

The Governor, Republican Warren P. Knowles, immediately denounced the verdict, stating that accepting such expenses was common in the Legislature and Congress.

[31] Alfonsi was forced to leave office, but immediately appealed the conviction, ultimately winning a reprieve from the Wisconsin Supreme Court in January 1967, on the grounds that he lacked the corrupt intent required by the statute.

[32] In the meantime, Alfonsi was elected to another term while waiting for the Supreme Court decision, but was only allowed to return to office after the conviction was overturned.

La Follette attempted to appeal that verdict to the Wisconsin Supreme Court, on grounds of flawed jury instructions, but was unsuccessful.

[36] After leaving office, Alfonsi served for several years as a lobbyist in Madison, moving his primary residence to the nearby city of Middleton, Wisconsin.