Home Grown Coronado Michael Napolitano
The Napolitano name has been prominent in Coronado since the early 1900s, with four generations calling it home. Mike Napolitano’s grandfather, Carmine, opened a grocery store, Day and Night Market in 1917 and that began the Napolitano legacy. The family mystery is what brought him to Coronado from Italy via New York. The market was later managed by his father, Michael A. Napolitano, then his uncle Joe Todaro. Mike Napolitano, as well as his two sons Erich and Evan, graduated from Coronado High School (CHS). While he was not in high school sports, like other Coronado teenagers, he enjoyed the local surfing. His father attended CHS, but World War II prevented his graduation. He had enlisted when he was 16, requiring his parents’ signature and receiving his diploma when he returned. After graduating from San Diego State
University (SDSU) with a major in zoology and minor in chemistry, Napolitano changed his direction from pre-med to education. “I went to graduate school, School of Education, to get my teacher’s degree. I really wanted to be a teacher.” The Vietnam war altered his plans when President Nixon cancelled graduate deferments, and he was drafted. After deciding he wanted to fulfill his service as an officer, he took a circuitous route and ended up, with the advice of a neighbor who was an active duty Marine Corps major, joining the Marine Corps as a pilot. He took the oath in May 1971. “I was engaged to Sue at the time when all this happened,” said Napolitano. “Got married in August ‘71, off to OCS in January 1972.” Napolitano became a Marine pilot, but his service was as an Air Support Control Officer. “I wasn’t flying planes, but I was
Coronado Magazine | P21
