Rich Bartolozzi, a 1986 graduate of Lake Forest College who served his alma mater in the Advancement Department for 26 years, will be the 2026 recipient of the Forester Impact Award at Homecoming. The award is sponsored by the Forester Athletic Network (F.A.N. Club) and will be presented at the Athletic Recognition Ceremony on Saturday, October 3.
The Forester Impact Award honors individuals who have made a significant impact on athletics at Lake Forest College through their loyal support and whose consistent and meritorious commitment has contributed to the success of Forester Athletics. These individuals have gone above and beyond in serving and supporting the Forester athletic community. Bartolozzi will join Karen Herman, Spike Gummere, Paula Dau '58, Bob Tiernan '49, Tom Franke '63, the late Jean and Frank Mohr '52, and John Nelson '63 as recipients of the award.
Rich originally came to the College as a freshman in 1982 and was a member of the Forester men's basketball team during his first year on campus. He went on to earn a bachelor's degree in business administration and management in 1986. After a successful stint in sales, he returned to Lake Forest in 2000 and spent the next 26 years in the College's Advancement Department, ultimately as the Senior Director for Gift Planning.
During his career Rich helped secure more than $125 million in philanthropic support and was a close partner and friend to Forester Athletics. Nearly every major athletic facility on campus underwent transformative renovations since the turn of the century with nearly $30 million invested through the generosity of alumni, families, and friends of the College, with Rich playing a leading role in cultivating and securing that support.
The largest of those projects was the $20 million renovation of the Sports and Recreation Center, which was completed in 2010 and included a 65,000-square-foot addition. Other notable athletic facility improvements include the installation and eventual replacement of artificial turf on Farwell Field, significant enhancements to Alumni Memorial Field House through the Home Ice Advantage Campaign, turf installation on Mohr Field, Halas Hall locker room renovations, and refurbishment of the varsity gymnasium in the Sports and Recreation Center.
The number of varsity teams at the College has grown by six in the last dozen years and Rich was and integral part of the fundraising necessary to add Forester men's and women's golf, track and field, and lacrosse.
In recognition of his career accomplishments, the Rich Bartolozzi '86 Scholarship Fund was established in the spring of 2026 and donations to the fund on Forester Day exceeded $25,000.
"Rich has been an extremely loyal FAN Club member throughout his time at the College and has also been a staple at countless FAN events," noted Vice President for Career Advancement and Community Engagement and former Director of Athletics Jackie Slaats. "If not for something as monumental as his daughter's wedding last fall, he would have participated in each of the last 26 annual FAN Club golf outings and he has attended nearly every special athletic celebration or reunion. He is one of the most thoughtful, humble, and helpful colleagues I have ever had the privilege to work with and is admired, respected, and appreciated by faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community members alike."
"Rich embodies everything that makes Lake Forest College special," commented Lake Forest College Assistant Vice President for Athletics Jim Catanzaro. "As an alumnus, colleague, and champion for generations of students, Rich has always believed deeply in the mission of the College and the transformative power of a Lake Forest education. He understood that athletics is much more than competition—it is one of the most effective pathways for attracting talented students to our campus and creating opportunities for them to thrive academically, socially, and professionally once they arrive. Through his leadership, vision, and tireless efforts in advancement, Rich helped secure the resources that have elevated the student-athlete experience for thousands of Foresters. The facilities, programs, and opportunities our students enjoy today are, in many ways, a reflection of his commitment to ensuring that Lake Forest College remains a place where students can pursue excellence in every aspect of their lives. He is more than deserving of the Forester Impact Award."
