CARLO A. MARTELLOTTI, 58;
Human resources consultant exec
By Joan Giangrasse Kates
Special to the Tribune
8 August 2002
Chicago Tribune
(Copyright 2002 by the Chicago Tribune)
Carlo A. Martellotti, 58, of St. Charles, the regional vice president of human resources consultants Drake, Beam, Morin, died of heart failure Sunday, Aug. 4, in his home.
Born in Cincinnati, Mr. Martellotti graduated with honors from the University of Cincinnati, where he received a bachelor's degree in political science. He also participated in the Ford Foundation Honors Program and went on to study law and political science at the university's graduate school.
"Back then, he wanted to go into politics and maybe become a senator one day," said his daughter Melissa. "It wasn't long before he decided that what he really wanted to do was work in business, where he could direct his talents toward managing people."
Mr. Martellotti left graduate school to work for AT&T, where he held a variety of positions in 23 years with the company. During his tenure, he served in various managerial roles and was the first managing director for the AT&T offices in Spain and Portugal.
A gifted public speaker and known for his ability to help bridge cultures, Mr. Martellotti is credited with being a major contributor to AT&T's expansion into the international market. He also frequently served as the company spokesman for many local and national newspapers, magazines and talk shows, and was the company's chief media representative while working abroad.
"He was the go-to person in just about every aspect of his life," said his daughter. "He was an outgoing individual, warm and engaging, who could think on his feet and get things done. He never shied away from making decisions, even tough ones, and always showed good judgment. He was also a bottomless well of valuable advice."
For the last 11 years, Mr. Martellotti was the regional vice president in the Downers Grove office of Drake, Beam, Morin, an international human resources consulting firm. He was a member of the company's corporate executive management team and was responsible for the expansion to a 23-state regional market.
Mr. Martellotti was honored for his dedication and contributions to his employers. He served on the boards of various organizations, including the International Association of Career Management Professionals in Chicago, the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra Corporate Sponsorship Committee, the American School of Madrid (which his children attended while living in Spain) and the Madrid School for the Dyslexic.
"He placed great importance on family and education and made sure all three of his children went on to college," said his daughter. "He felt those two things were key to leading a happy and successful life."
Other survivors include his wife, Nola; a son, Christopher; another daughter, Jennifer; and a brother, Alfred.
Services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday in Baker Memorial Church, 3rd Avenue and Main Street, St. Charles.
Tom Lillich
I don’t remember when I first met Carlo but we had become very good friends by the time we graduated from Woodward. I remember pick-up touch football games in Carlo’s front yard on cold, rainy November Sunday afternoons. The games were fun but the real draw was the possibility that we would be invited to stay for a dinner prepared by Carlo’s mother Jennie who had become quite an accomplished Italian cook after marrying Carlo’s dad Mario. Another vivid memory is an afternoon Carlo and I spent shadowing John F. Kennedy and his entourage when they stopped in Cincinnati during the run-up to the 1960 presidential election. Republican activist that he was, Carlo had secured placards that we attached to my dad’s blue and white ’59 Chevy proclaiming us to be members of the “G.O.P Truth Squad”. The “truth” we spoke is lost to history but no doubt was something about the end of civilization as we knew it should the liberal Eastern establishment gain control of the White House. Carlo was a Nixon guy through and through as can be seen in the sequence of photos on page six of the annual. Carlo and I also spent many Friday evenings freezing our keisters on the roof of the Trechter Stadium press box shooting 16 mm black and white movies while varsity football team members repeatedly concussed themselves and their opponents for the greater glory of our Alma Mater. As happens all too often, Carlo and I drifted apart after graduation. We would see one another at a wedding or over a beer from time to time when he returned to the U.S from one of his exotic overseas work assignments but that was about it. We hadn’t spoken in several years when I learned of his death shortly after our 45th reunion. My friend Carlo was enthusiastic, smart, witty, caring and faithful. I miss him.Steve Gaible
Tom Lillich's memories brought back similar feelings about Carlo. Like Tom and Carlo's bio recalled, Carlo skipped town for most of his career. I spotted him in the late 60's on Vine St hill in Mt. Auburn surveying tenement dwellings for AT&T (I think)- a honk and a 'hello'. Lost track after he headed overseas.At our 50th birthday reunion in Fairfield, he sneaked in during the speeches. It took a few glances to realize it was Carlo. He told us he had moved back to Cincinnati about a year ago! We said great- let's get together soon. He said 'too late- I'm moving to Chicago next week'
I spoke to him by phone a couple times after we received his reservation for the 40th reunion in 2001 to see if he was attending the Friday night stag, and the DB reunion Saturday afternoon. He said he was driving to Indy Friday for his son's swim meet Saturday morning, and driving back Saturday night for another Sunday morning event, but will be at the Embassy Suites Saturday evening.
We were disappointed that he did not make it. Several e-mails and phone messages to him in the following weeks were not answered. I don't know if he had delays at the swim meet or had physical complications prior to that Friday.