GILDO MAZZOLIN

Gildo Mazzolin, Founder and Owner, Rex Carton Company, Chicago, IL. Former Owner and Chairman, Capitol Bank and Trust of Chicago and Capitol Bank of Westmont. Born Sept. 13, 1913. Gildo "Gil" Mazzolin was born in Chicago, but returned to Citadella, Italy near Venice with his family at age six. Undaunted by the enormous challenges of the Great Depression, Mazzolin traveled back to the United States at age 16 to pursue his American dream. The young Mazzolin found menial work with a carton company and earned $0.25 per hour. After working hard and learning the business for 15 years, he ventured out on his own and founded Rex Carton Company, which Mazzolin named after the ship on which he sailed back to America. He and one other employee sold job lots and obsolete cartons. Mazzolin's lifelong business mantra was "Friendships are made by being loyal. Treat everyone with respect. Never say that a job is too hard, or that a problem cannot be solved." His business acumen lead to exponential growth at Rex, and Mazzolin eventually purchased a 10,000-square-foot garage from which he manufactured his own carton products. By 1966, Rex moved into a large factory and warehouse, which now totals 180,000 square feet and offers complete custom design consultation, printing, lamination and labeling services. Mazzolin's grandson, Ron Lemar, and his nephew, Sal Arena, manage the company today. The carton company was not Mazzolin's only business success. During the 1960s, his entrepreneurial spirit moved him to take advantage of an investment opportunity in banking. Mazzolin became the owner and chairman of Capitol Bank and Trust on Chicago's Northwest side. He later acquired Capitol Bank of Westmont. Mazzolin's daughter, Amy, worked continuously with him in managing the family's financial holdings until the banks were sold in 1997. Through their trust, Gildo and Amy Mazzolin annually support more than 20 charities, including: the Cancer Research Center and the McClean Center of the University of Chicago; Catholic Charities' New Hope Apartments; and the Archdiocese of Chicago's Big Shoulders Fund. Their generous philanthropy to the Italian community includes Villa Scalabrini, The Italian Cultural Center and Holy Rosary Church. Mr. Mazzolin will lie in state at Assumption B.V.M. Church, 323 W. Illinois St. (corner of Franklin and Illinois) Friday, from 1 p.m. until time of Mass at 2 p.m. Entombment Queen of Heaven Mausoleum private. Arrangements entrusted to Belmont Funeral Home . 773-286-2500.