Robert A. Napoli is
Friends of Tolentine’s Man of the Year 2009

Prior Provincial William Lego, O.S.A. (left) presents the Man of the Year cross to Robert A. Napoli October 15, 2008. The Friends of Tolentine honored Napoli as their 2009 Man of the Year.

Robert A. Napoli (right) enjoys a laugh with Rev. William Lego, O.S.A., Prior Provincial of the Augustinians of the Midwest, at the Friends of Tolentine Man/Woman of the Year Dinner. The organization supports Augustinian vocations and formation programs.

Jack Vlazny (right), President of Friends of Tolentine, presents the Man of the Year plaque to Robert A. Napoli during the organization’s 2009 Man/Woman of the Year dinner.

Robert A. Napoli, President of the Village of Willowbrook, Illinois, is the Friends of Tolentine 2009 Man of the Year.

He received this honor at the organization's annual Man/Woman of the Year dinner October 15, 2009.

A 1958 graduate of the former Augustinian Mendel Catholic High School, Chicago, Napoli is a prime example of a student who benefitted from an Augustinian education. At Mendel he served as Senior Class President, President of the Student Senate and President of the National Honor Society.

Napoli also lettered in football and basketball. He was a member of the 1957 City Championship football team. He received the Class of 1958 Activities Medal. Several years after graduating, he returned to Mendel as a Teacher of History and Civics.

He is past Chairperson of the Western Springs Library Foundation. In 1968, he served as coordinator for the first Special Olympics held at Soldier Field, Chicago.

In addition fulfilling to his duties as Village President, Napoli works as a professional Real Estate Appraiser. He is licensed and certified in three states. He was an initial member of the Instructors Hall of Fame of the Appraisal Institute’s Chicago Chapter and received the Heritage Award for Continued Dedicated Service to the appraisal profession.

Since 1980 Napoli has been an active supporter of the Augustinian Missions in Chulucanas, Peru, and of the Augustinians of the Midwest. He is an active member of the Friends of Tolentine and the Mendel Alumni Association.

He and his wife Carolyn are the parents of Janet, Margaret and Michael, and grandparents of two granddaughters and five grandsons.

The Friends of Tolentine is a group of lay men and women who foster and support vocations to the Augustinian Order. The organization has its roots in separate men's and women's groups, Men of Tolentine and Ladies of Tolentine, organized in 1958 by the late Very Rev. John L. Seary, O.S.A., then Provincial of the Augustinians of the Midwest. In 2009 the men’s group began welcoming women as members, changing its name to Friends of Tolentine. Since 1958 the organization has contributed more than $700,000 to Augustinian formation programs. The largest part of this amount has come from the annual Man/Woman of the Year event, held each October.

More information about the Friends of Tolentine may be obtained by calling Jack Vlazny, President, at 708-403-0358.