Ettore Giacinto Nardulli

1943 - 2022

Ettore "Sonny" Giacinto Nardulli age 78, of Algonquin, Illinois passed away in the comfort of his home on January 20, 2022 with his loving family at his side.

He was born in Oak Park, Illinois on September 23, 1943 the dear son of Ettore and Daria "Dorothy" Nardulli (Lucarini).

Sonny began his typesetting career in Chicago at Poole Brothers where he worked as a typesetter from 1959-1963. There he met his life-long mentor, John Dinzole, who offered him an opportunity to be a part of a computer typesetting company in Crystal Lake, Illinois called Black Dot. In 1963, Sonny joined John at Black Dot. He commuted back and forth from Melrose Park to Crystal Lake and eventually decided to move his young family to Algonquin in 1967 to be closer to work. Over time, Sonny was given manager responsibilities which would then later lead him to become the COO & President of Black Dot. Sonny loved his years at Black Dot and made many life-long friends along the way including Presidents and CEO's of industry leaders like Sears, Eastman Kodak and Office Depot. After retiring in 2009 from Black Dot, Sonny continued to give of his time to help others. He became a board member and Committee Chair with the Over the Rainbow Association in Evanston, Illinois as well as founding and creating a coalition in Palm Beach County, Florida to save the beach coastline. He had a way of bringing people together to do good work that made an impact and enjoyed investing his time into people he deeply cared about. He was an incredible leader, mentor and loyal friend.

Sonny was an avid boater. He owned several boats during his lifetime which his family enjoyed on the Fox River/Chain of Lakes and even the Mississippi river. In later years, his boating adventures led his family to Lake Michigan where he and Jean took several trips to Michigan and Wisconsin. He enjoyed owning and taking care of his boats as well as bringing family and friends on rides. Sonny also enjoyed golfing with his family and friends and helped nurture the love of golf to his granddaughters. Despite the physical challenges he faced from childhood Polio, Sonny participated in most everything. He lived life to the fullest and never took pity on himself.

Sonny had a larger than life presence in his work and his family. He found great value in his work but he was most proud of his family and his 59 years of marriage to his high-school sweetheart, Jean. He will be greatly missed.

Sonny is preceded in death by his parents Ettore Nardulli and Daria "Dorothy" Nardulli (Lucarini).

He is survived by his loving wife of 59 years, Jean (Cassarella) Nardulli whom he married on January 13, 1963; his beloved children, Gina Marie (Steven) Young, John Ettore Nardulli and Nicholas Donald (Donna) Nardulli; his cherished grandchildren, Gabrielle (Donald) Langland, Gillian Young (Fiancé Gaetano DiPasquale), Isabelle Young and Gianna Rose Nardulli; his dear sister, Marie (James) Moretti; his brother-in-law, Michael (Cathy) Cassarella and their son, Mark Cassarella. He was the beloved uncle to Karen (Nic) Draper, Dana Moretti and Noreen Brockman and special uncle to Donald (Robin) Novelle and Nicole (Michael) Carpanzano.

A memorial visitation will be held on Friday, April 1, 2022 from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Willow Funeral Home 1415 W. Algonquin Rd., (one half mile east of Randall Rd.) Algonquin, Illinois 60102.

Family & friends will gather for a Celebration of Life Funeral Mass on Saturday, April 2, 2022 beginning at 11:00 am at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church, 111 S. Hubbard St., Algonquin.

Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, memorials to Over the Rainbow Association (OTR) at otrhousing.org/donate or the Juvenile Diabetes Association at jdrf.org/donate would be greatly appreciated.