| Tony Villelli has lived in North Idaho since he
was 14. His parents, Dick and Marie, moved Tony and four younger
bothers out of the rat race of southern California in 1986 to
Good Grief, Idaho. The move was a natural fit for five active
boys who loved the outdoors. Tony started high school as a
freshman at Bonners Ferry High, where he was involved in varsity
athletics as a starter on the football team for four years and
high school politics as the student body vice president in his
junior and senior years.
Tony went on to college at Gonzaga
University in Spokane, Wash., where in four years he earned his
degree in Economics and Finance, while staying active by playing
rugby at the university. Immediately upon graduation in 1994
Tony took and passed his real estate exam for licensure in the
state of Washington, where he still holds a real estate license.
Without delay, following the acquisition of his Washington
license, Tony obtained his Idaho license, while working for his
family’s real estate development and management company,
Villelli Enterprises, Inc. Tony has been directly involved in
the management and development of many very large commercial and
residential properties in northern Idaho and eastern Washington,
most notably Hidden Lakes Golf Resort in Sandpoint.
In 1999 Tony married wife Susan and moved to Hayden Lake.
Tony and Susan now have three little girls, Marissa, Alysha and
Vanessa.
Tony still works for the five-decade, three-generation-old
Villelli Enterprises, Inc. in management and development
capacities but, as he puts it, “jumped at the opportunity” to
hang his license with a group as well renowned as Tomlinson
Sandpoint Sotheby’s International Realty in Sandpoint.
Growing up the family’s business was always part of daily
family life. It was only natural to become the first in my
generation (the third generation of Villelli’s) to be licensed
as a REALTOR®. With years of going to the office with my dad as
a youngster and over a decade of licensed experience, I cannot
imagine a job that I would be better suited for or that I would
enjoy this much! Real estate is what I love because it truly is
part of my family.
~ Tony Villelli
Tony, Dick and Tony Villelli three generations
of Villelli Realtors August 6, 2008
Hello Friends:
I may be somewhat unavailable for the next week or so. I lost my
grandfather Tony Villelli yesterday. After a surgery to stop
hemorrhaging in his brain on Saturday he never really regained
consciousness and slip away peacefully early yesterday morning.
For those that did not know “Papa Tony” he was a real American
hero and a true “American Dream” success story. The son of
Italian immigrants he married his childhood sweetheart, went on
to fight in WWII where he was captured as a POW and had his back
broken by a German rifle butt, which was recognized with a
purple heart. He came home from the war battered but not broken.
He and my grandmother (Bama) would move the family to La Habra,
CA and open a restaurant at 1001 W. Whittier Blvd.
In the 50’s he was diagnosed with lung cancer and had one
lung and part of the other removed. He started Villelli
Enterprises, Inc. and built quite a little real estate empire in
La Habra, recently being recognized as one La Habra’s important
historic leaders. Making a good living for himself and his
“friends” (also know by most developers as investors, but Papa
Tony only worked with people he liked) he also made sure to go
the extra mile to do good for the community along the way.
Villelli Enterprises, Inc. still has its head quarters at 1001
W. Whittier Blvd.
He managed to retire early (I remember dad saying getting him
out of the office the first few years was like pulling teeth,
he’d show up and give his opinion whether anyone wanted it or
not). He finally went on to enjoy life, traveling with Bama and
spending summers in their cabin on the Moyie River outside of
Good Grief, ID. This was the Papa Tony I remember best. For years
they made this journey entertaining as many people as they could
possibly fit in the house and cabin. Years of BBQ’s, fishing
trips, and birthdays parties.
Bama and Papa’s health both started to decline and we saw less
of them as the trips to the cabin became more difficult.
His most recent battle, a victory over prostate caner really
signaled the beginning of the end of his time with us. He
had lived with diabetes most of his life and recently his
kidneys started to fail, which led to dialysis. Papa Tony lived
his life to the fullest and was a perfect example of what hard
work and “clean living” will get you. I don’t know anyone who
fits the saying “what doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger”
better than Papa Tony. After 89 years of hard, but good living,
Papa Tony deserves to rest in peace.
I am certainly proud to be named after him! May God and St.
Anthony guide his soul home.
Tony Villelli
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