group of suppliers and board converters, all of whom were his friends, for a good Italian meal and lots of jokes and fun conversation. The laughter never stopped. He was the consummate salesman, always making sure customers were taken care of and happy. He was the best boss one could ever hope for.” “I’ve known Tom for more than 30 years, first as a competitor and then as a member of his team for the past 14 years,” said Robyn Smith, Executive Publisher of NV Publications. “As competitors, we were always friends and respected each other. It wasn’t until I joined NV that I learned how much heart this man had and how devoted he was to his friends and em- ployees. Tom was a shrewd businessman but never passed up an opportunity to raise a glass and have a laugh with his friends and colleagues.” Any advertiser who has experienced a sales meeting with Tom Vilardi can speak to the enthusiasm and plea- sure with which they were sold yet another ad package. “Tom was a fantastic guy,” recalled Tony D’Aprile of Stafford Corrugated Products, Inc. “I always enjoyed his phone calls to invite me to lunch, which always somehow ended up with me buying additional ads! He was a master! He will be missed.” “Tom’s smile and laughter brightened up every event and gathering,” said Cosmo DeNicola of
Amtech Software. “He had an amazing ability to en- gage a crowd. I’ll miss his poking fun at my ads.” Nick Griffin of Griffin Communications has been witness to Vilardi’s sales prowess for decades.“Tom was always a tenacious salesman, which was how he nearly doubled the revenues of NV publications after he came on board.” Paul Aliprando of SUN Automation Group shares, “I remember the lunch I had with Tom and Robyn Smith near Atlantic City one year. Tom mentioned when he was in his teens, he worked as a waiter at the restaurant we met in. One night, the owner asked his staff to stay longer after normal closing.Tom was surprised when Frank Sinatra and his crew came into the restaurant for late dinners after Sinatra’s Atlantic City show. After the meal, Sinatra went around to all the staff and handed each a $50 tip! When Tom, Robyn and I left the restaurant, I asked Tom if he would leave a $50 tip. Without missing a beat, Tom replied ‘I don’t sing as good as Frank!’” “The experiences Tom had during his life showed in his eyes,” said Aliprando. “He was always excited and upbeat. Even when fighting cancer, he may have been weaker and thinner, but his eyes still had that gleam and excitement.You will be missed,Tom.”
Flexo Market News August 6, 2018 13
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