Al Petrilli Opens NewFed Mortgage Branch Office in Winthrop

Al Petrilli, who was there from the beginning for the Viking Pride Foundation, as a board member, and later served as its chairman for three and a half years, has begun a new venture of his own.

Petrilli,  has joined NewFed Mortgage as a producing branch manager and opened a branch office in town.

His son, Al Petrilli Jr., 27, a member of the 2006 Super Bowl champion Winthrop High School football team, is a licensed loan officer at the new branch office. Petrilli saw action on the offensive line for the Vikings in the Super Bowl after starting All-Star center Rob Hamilton sustained an injury. He went on to attend Endicott College and graduated in 2012.

The father-and-son team both work out of NewFed’s state-of-the-art offices at the Atlantis Marina, 550 Pleasant St. Jeanette Cataldo , a designer and owner of Cataldo Interiors Inc., said she created the new, upscale office “to reflect Winthrop being a seaside town in a contemporary way.”

NewFed’s president and CEO is a Saugus native Brian D’Amico, who said he was pleased to have Al Petrilli on board. Coincidentally, Petrilli grew up in Revere across the street from Brian’s father, Jimmy D’Amico, now a very successful real estate developer.

“We are very proud to welcome Al to the NewFed management team,” said D’Amico. “Al is an accomplished mortgage industry professional dedicated to his craft, and he will complement our mortgage origination efforts in Massachusetts.”

Al Petrilli previously worked at MSA Mortgage, Winthrop, for 17 years and started at NewFed on Jan. 1.

“It’s a great opportunity and a new beginning for me and I’m ecstatic,” said Petrilli. “I feel revitalized, and I’m in management now. There is a lot more responsibility now in opening a branch for NewFed Mortgage . I didn’t want to leave Winthrop. Brian wanted to open a branch, and it was exciting for my son and I because this is the closest thing we could have to having our own company. We’re fortunate to work with a guy like Brian D’Amico, who has been tremendous to me.”

 

An All-Scholastic Athlete

Petrilli was a terrific left-handed quarterback and a Boston Globe All-Scholastic first baseman and captain at Revere High School, graduating in 1970. He went on to play football and baseball at Division 1 Boston University. The Terriers played their final season at Fenway Park where Petrilli had the opportunity to take the mound as a pitcher. He served as a physical education teacher and an assistant coach in the Revere High football program under Silvio Cella.

 

A proud father

Petrilli worked in the sporting goods industry for 20 years before deciding to switch careers to the mortgage industry following the passing of his beloved wife, Marie, to Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma in 1999. He had met his wife when he was a racquetball professional at the Boston Athletic Club in South Boston.

“When Marie died, that’s what made my profile change,” said Petrilli. “I had to figure out what could I do that would allow me the flexibility to be there for the kids (Al Jr. and Marielle, who were 8 and 6, repectively, at the time).”

In a tribute to his beloved wife, Petrilli founded the Marie C. Petrilli Cancer Research and Treatment Memorial Fund. The fund helps improve cancer patient care and recognize caregivers with scholarships and grants.

“That was my way of keeping Marie’s spirit alive,” said Petrilli.

Al said his mother, Theresa, helped raise his two children along with his brother David, and his sister-in-law, Kathy.

Marielle, a 2010 WHS graduate and former cheerleader, graduated from Stonehill College and went on to attend an accelerated Nurse Practitioner program at Simmons College. She is a working as a nurse practitioner at a health center in Peabody.

“I’m a very proud dad,” said Al Petrilli.

 

Promoting the best of Winthrop

NewFed Mortgage is a corresponding direct lender. If someone is looking to purchase or refinance a home, Petrilli said his office is there to assist and provide guidance through the process.

Petrilli said he won’t have a hard time encouraging homebuyers to invest in Winthrop.

“I’ve always thought of Winthrop as being undervalued in every way and it’s a gem of the North Shore,” said Petrilli. “Winthrop is finally getting the attention it needs for true growth. Home values have gone through the roof and we’re getting exposure to buyers from outside of Winthrop.”

Petrilli said the investment that the taxpayers made in the new $80 million high school/middle school, its parks will pay big dividends.

“Winthrop is a safe town – it’s a great place to live,” said Petrilli. “I’ve always considered Winthrop to be a suburb of Boston because of its easy access to the city.”

Petrilli is optimistic about the town’s future and the new endeavor that he and his son have undertaken.

“I’m excited about the next 25 years here,” said Petrilli. “I love working. I don’t want to retire.”

(Al Petrilli of NewFed Mortgage can be reached at 617-901-5232. Al Petrilli Jr. can be reached at 617-513-3882).