Robert L. Carsello

On October 25, 2017, Robert Carsello passed away peacefully surrounded by his family. He is survived by Mary, his wife of 60 years, his daughters, Roberta Uhlar and Anna-Marie and her husband Douglas Waller, his three gandsons: Steven and Nicholas Waller, and Christopher Uhlar. Other surviving family members include his sister Virginia and her husband Bernard Schremser, Maria Boedigheimer, Regina Ridge, and David Uhlar. He was preceded in death by his parents, Nicholas and Assunta Carsello and brother, Reverend Nicholas Carsello, and two nephews, David Schremser and Anthony Schremser.

Bob was born in Chicago, Illinois, during the depth of the Depression. He was the youngest of three children. His father was in the construction field and using his father as a role model, he knew at a very early age that he wanted a career in the construction industry.

This career came about in a circuitous manner. He earned a scholarship at a privately endowed high school and college, where he earned an accredited degree in electrical engineering. After working in the electrical industry for two years, he saved enough money to attend the University of Illinois and graduated with honors with a degree in civil engineering. At last he accomplished his strong desire to be in the construction field.

For fifteen years, he worked as a field engineer/superintendent before he was invited to come to work in Naples at the invitation of George F. Kraft, who was his friend and coworker in Chicago. This was early in 1970. Bob soon took over the helm when George was stricken with lung cancer and died in the summer of 1974. Bob then purchased the company from George’s widow, and changed the name from the George F. Kraft Construction Company to Kraft Construction Company, Inc.

Throughout the years, Bob has served his community and industry well. He was appointed Chairman of the Contractors Examining Board for eight consecutive yeas. He also served as Chairman for the Naples Chamber of Commerce Political Action Committee and the Community Leaders Council. He was a former Director of the Naples Area Chamber of Commerce, the Economic Development Council, Collier County Builders and Contractors Association and the Associated Builders and Contractors Association. Bob was a member of the Board of Directors of Hospice of Naples, Inc. for ten years and served as Chairman for two terms. He also served on the Board of Directors of Barnett Bank of Naples for six years. He was the first recipient of the Builder of the Year award for both the Builders and Contractors Association and the Subcontractors Association. Bob was honored by the Collier County Boys and Girls Club and received the Junior Achievement Business Leadership Hall of Fame Laureate Award. Catholic Charities of Collier County Honored, Bob, with the first Humanitarian of the Year Award.

Since his retirement in 2007, Bob devoted the majority of his time to marketing education. His initial involvement was the renovation of St. Elizabeth Seton School. Using his construction expertise, he updated the physical campus and classroom interiors, which brought them up to today’s standards. He also added a middle school building, completely revamped the cafeteria, remodeled the library, upgraded the computers, set up the media center and upgraded the playground. In addition to the physical changes he made to the school, he raised funds for tuition assistance. He accomplished this by chairing four golf tournaments and holding car raffles.

Once St. Elizabeth Seton was updated, Bob turned his attention to St. John Neumann High School. He was instrumental in the establishment of the state of the art science lab, which the students currently enjoy. He also served on the building committee assisting with their expansion program. He built the “Our Lady of the Angels Chapel” on the campus. He also served on the St. William Church building committee, which is rather unusual, considering he built the original church.

The viewing will be held on Friday, November 3, 2017, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Hodges Funeral Home at 525 111th Avenue North, Naples, FL 34108. Mass of Christian burial will be held on Saturday, November 4, 2017, at 11:00 a.m. at St. William Catholic Church at 750 Seagate Drive, Naples, FL 34103. Because education was of utmost importance to Bob, and because he was always grateful and appreciative for the scholarships he received, in lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in his name to: St. John Neumann High School (Attn: Sr. Patricia Roche – Tuition Assistance - 3000 53rd Street SW, Naples, FL 34116).