Remembering Nick Paolella

The Restoration Industry Association pays tribute to Dominic (Nick) Paolella, co-founder of Jon-Don, and a legend within the restoration industry. Nick passed away on February 17, 2022. He was 86 years old. In 1978 he founded Jon-Don and was a fixture at restoration industry trade shows and events ever since. He received the Ralph Bloss Humanitarian Award in 2017 at The Experience Convention and Trade Show in recognition of his kindness. Nick will be missed and remembered fondly for years to come.

A Remembrance of Nick Paolella by Pete Consigli:

Nick was well known in the Jon Don circles by a quote he professed almost every day, as his longtime friend and former Jon Don associate Bill Yeadon told me, when I asked him how often does Nick espouse this quote attributed to him!

I first heard the quote from Nick at a networking dinner at an ASCR (RIA) convention in the 1990's and have never forgotten it.

I asked Nick what advice he had to help build a successful business that he could pass on to the next generation. Paraphrasing his reply, Nick said without hesitation, "Don't do business with family and friends, but rather make friends out of those you do business with, and they become like family.".

Nick Paolella was truly one of a kind and the life of the party. He will be remembered fondly by all his industry friends for years to come! 

A Remembrance of Nick Paolella by Ken Rothmel:

“Nick was one of a kind who always supported RIA. I know that Heaven rang a bell when Nick walked through the Pearly Gates. It is their gain and our loss.”

Papa Nick by the Letters by the Z-man!

DOMINIC “NICK” PAOLELLA

D EDICATED
O PTIMISTIC
M AGNETIC
I NFLUENTIAL
N IMBLE
I RREPLACEABLE
C ARING

N ATURAL
I NSPIRING
C HEERLEADER
K IND

P ERSONABLE
A MUSING
O BSERVANT
L OYAL
E NTHUSIASTIC
L EADER
L OVING
A MAZING