Page 49 - 01A_CL7_SEP21.indd

2021 NATIONAL FOP BIENNIAL CONFERENCE REPORT
Remembering Bill Nolan
When Bill Nolan passed away in April 2020, the pandemic prevent- ed the type of funeral attendance that would have appropriately hon- ored the man who served as Lodge 7 president from 1993 to 2002.
But the national conference made some amends by offering a moment of silence to remember some of the FOP’s greatest leaders who passed away during the past two years. The nearly 4,000 dele- gates joined members from Illinois and Chicago to honor Nolan, who also served as national treasurer for eight years.
FOP’s support of Easterseals leads to a major achievement
In the hospitality room of the Chica- go delegation’s hotel, longtime Lodge 7 treasurer John Capparelli shared a cele- bratory moment with an old friend. One of the FOP’s favorite sons, Maurice Snell, had just begun a job at DeLaSalle High School, where Capparelli used to coach football in his spare time.
Lodge 7 members know Snell well through their ongoing support of Easter- seals. More than 30 years ago, Snell came to Easterseals with undiagnosed autism. The organization took him in, brought him along, motivated him to make hon- or society–worthy grades in high school and watched him earn a college degree.
Snell befriended many Chicago Police Officers through his work as an Easter- seals ambassador. Then this year, he ma- triculated to take a job as a developmen- tal coordinator at DeLaSalle.
Easterseals seemed to celebrate its 44-year relationship with the FOP when Snell took the podium to address the na- tional delegation. Retired State Trooper Rocky Nowaczyk, the national trustee from Illinois who sits on the Easterseals board, introduced Snell, and his speech was marked with repeated standing ova- tions.
“He exemplifies the words persever- ance and achievement,” Rocky said.
As he described how Easterseals was the perfect fit for someone who was non- verbal at a young age, Snell explained how the true pillar of the organization aligns so perfectly with police officers: encouraging him to reach his full poten- tial.
“Some doctors told me that I would be
institutionalized and wouldn’t amount to anything in life,” Snell added. “I man- aged to grow friendships with colleagues over the years and grow to be the man I am today. Without the FOP, none of this would be possible. Thank you for believ- ing in me. I appreciate you both, and to- gether we can create a difference in the world.”
CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ SEPTEMBER 2021 49