JANUARY 7, 1944 – JANUARY 14, 2014

Obituary of Michael J. Volpe

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Michael Joseph Volpe, 70, of Naples, passed away on Tuesday, January 14, 2014.

Born in Schenectady, New York, on January 7, 1944, Michael was graduated from Syracuse University, B.A., with honors in 1965 and Syracuse University College of Law, J.D., summa cum laude as Valedictorian in 1967. After dating for seven years, he married the love of his life, Mary Jo Volpe, on November 3, 1967, and they remained happily married for 46 years. He began practicing law in Naples in 1980 and was most recently a managing partner of Robins, Kaplan, Miller and Ciresi Naples offices.

Michael was very active in the Naples community. His past volunteer work included Collier County Chapter of the American Red Cross, Board of Directors of the Naples Family YMCA, and he was a former member on the board of directors of Florida Gulf Cost University Foundation, Meftah Scholarship Foundation, and First Community Bank of Southwest Florida as well as the Board of Trustees for Hodges University, president of the Collier County Historical Society and a member of the Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council for Region Nine. His appointed and elected positions have included board of commissioners of the Golden Gate Fire Control and Rescue District and Commissioner with the Board of County Commissioners of Collier County, Florida (1988-1994), Vice-Chairman (1990-1991)and Chairman (1992). In 2000, Governor Jeb Bush appointed Michael to the Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council. As a result of his community involvement, he received a number of recognitions and awards, among them inclusion in Who's Who in American Law, Who's Who in Florida, and the Friendship Award presented by the City Council of the City of Naples.

But for all his professional accomplishments, Michael’s greatest successes were as a loving husband, father, grandfather, uncle and friend. His gentleness, kindness, patience and optimism were prized by all who were fortunate enough to know him, and when he forged a friendship, it was for life. He was that rare human being who managed to balance an illustrious career with a full and happy home life, for which he was everpresent and to which he was fully devoted, and he will be cherished forever in the hearts of those who knew and dearly loved him. People described him as the quintessential gentleman.

Michael is survived by his wife, Mary Jo; daughters Darlene Bertucci of Naples and Darcy Volpe of New York, New York; son-in-law Charles Bertucci; grandchildren, Zoe and Chase Bertucci; and his sister, Julie Chilson of Syracuse, NY.

Memorial services will be held on Friday, January 17, at Hodges Funeral Home at Naples Memorial Gardens from 6-8pm and a mass will take place at St. Williams Catholic Church, Naples, at 10am on Saturday, January 18. For more information, call Hodges Funeral Home at 239-597-3101. The family would like to express their heartfelt thanks Dr. Douglas Harrington and Dr. Michael Flynn for their wonderful care and friendship. Donations can me be made to the pulmonary fibrosis foundation at http://pulmonaryfibrosis.donorpages.com/Tribute/MichaelJVolpe