5 minute read
Home Grown Coronado Michael Napolitano
Home Grown Coronado
Michael Napolitano
Advertisement
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
still in the airwing, on the ground, stationed at Cherry Point, North Carolina”
When his service ended, he returned to SDSU to complete his teaching credential. His first teaching job was in Escondido at Grant Middle School, teaching math and science for two years, then to Murrieta Middle School where he taught grades five through eight.
His varied career history took another turn when he left teaching to work with Service Master at Children’s Hospital in San Francisco for two years.
In 1981, he joined his dad to start their own real estate company, Mike Napolitano Realty. His dad had started working in the real estate business in 1965 in Coronado, and with his vast experience, he became a mentor to his son.
The real estate business has been a good fit for Napolitano, who is a people person. For him, the best thing about this job is working with people. “Every day is different, not boring or humdrum. Whether you’re dealing with buyers, or sellers, or tenants or property owners, every day is different,” he said. “This strong family legacy and an intimate knowledge of the local market evolution over the years are the key components of the company’s success.”
The numerous plaques for awards and recognition decorating his office wall attest to Napolitano’s achievements in Coronado. Choosing the most treasured ones took a few minutes of reflection, but he finally mentioned several: 1998 - Realtor of Year from Coronado Association of Realtors; 1986 - Duncan Turnipseed Memorial Award from what was then the Coronado 20/30 Club for Outstanding Membership; 1988 – 1992 - Coronado City Council member; 1997 – 1998 - Chair of Coronado Hospital Foundation.
Retirement is not on the immediate horizon. “People ask me when I will retire. I like what I’m doing. I’m healthy. What I do doesn’t require extreme physical work…So what would I do? So would I retire in two years? Probably not, maybe 80.”
However, COVID limited working hours for him. “Now I’ve been working less, and that started when we got shut down last year for COVID. I got used to it. Then we got to reopen because we were determined to be an essential service, but I would still come into the office every day for two hours. ‘Cause there’s still stuff to do. All the agents were working from home.”
While some employees still work from home, Napolitano recognizes the need for interaction to create the camaraderie and energy necessary for a cohesive team. “All working from home is not good.”
His business recently became affiliated with Better Homes and Garden which “perfectly captures the signature lifestyle element of the brand.” Napolitano is “impressed with brand tools and programs designed to enhance marketing opportunities and build on customer relationships.” The new affiliation resulted in a name change to Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate (BHGRE) Napolitano & Associates, which makes it the 23rd BHGRE affiliate in California.
Neither son is in the real estate business. Like his wife, both sons are artistic. Erich is a muralist, currently working on an old VFW building which is being restored in Sandy, Oregon. Evan works in San Diego in a restaurant. One granddaughter, Sienna, 8 years old, lives in Illinois with her mother. While retirement is distant, working fewer hours has become a desirable habit. A runner in the Marine Corps, he now walks 1 to 3 miles a day. Residents often see him walking in town completing errands or simply greeting people. Besides walking, Napolitano stimulates his brain with puzzles and crossword puzzles, a new past-time since the COVID shut down. He also plays the piano and enjoys a wide variety of music. Favorite pieces to play are John Lennon’s “Imagine” and Beethoven’s “Fur Elise.” Besides the personal entertainment activities, he is an active participant at Resurrection Lutheran Church, along with the Coronado Marine Corps League, and the Coronado Roundtable. Napolitano may be approaching retirement age, but with his successful business and the pleasure he derives from his daily routine plus his contributions to Coronado, age becomes meaningless. Story - Linda Austin Photos courtesy - Mike Napolitano
HOW TO...
Blend Nature and Art
