February 09, 2026
Paige Haehlke and Marianne Riddell
Forever a Forester: Rich Bartolozzi ’86 retiring after 26 years of service
It’s difficult to separate Rich Bartolozzi ’86’s professional legacy from his personal story as a Forester. After nearly 26 years of advancing the mission of Lake Forest College—hoping to give other students an opportunity for a life-changing experience similar to his own—the two are tightly intertwined.
Bartolozzi's connection to Lake Forest College began in 1981 when a friend encouraged him to consider attending. Bartolozzi remembers visiting campus and thinking, “There’s no way I can afford this place!” But a generous scholarship and financial aid package made it possible and ultimately changed the course of his life.
As a student, Bartolozzi majored in business, played basketball, and worked on campus, including three years of delivering mail to buildings like North Hall—home to the Office of Advancement. At the time, he had no idea what “advancement” even meant. Years later in 2000, Bartolozzi returned to work in that very building, and in that very office.
“Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would not only come back and work at the College, but work in North Hall,” Bartolozzi said. “I’ve been blessed by the opportunity.”
Bartolozzi has spent nearly his entire career at the College, helping to shape his alma mater through relationships, trust, and long-term partnerships with alumni, families, and friends. For nearly four years in the mid-2000s, Bartolozzi also served as the Interim Vice President for Advancement, finishing off the final three years of the College’s 150th anniversary campaign. However, knowing his passion and skills lay in his work in relationship development and gift planning, he transitioned back to his original role.
During his time at the College, Bartolozzi was part of several capital campaigns to raise funds for the construction of new buildings such as Brown Hall and the Lillard Science Center—buildings he can now see from his office window. Those projects directly resulted in the College’s ability to grow its enrollment, from just over 1,500 when Lillard Science Center opened in 2018 to the more than 1,800 students the College now supports.
For Bartolozzi—and everyone who supports the College—students are at the heart of it all. When Bartolozzi meets with someone interested in contributing to the College, his goal is to always connect their support to what matters most: the student experience. In particular, raising funds for scholarships has always been deeply personal for Bartolozzi. Without it, he says, he could not have afforded to attend Lake Forest College himself.
“I’ve always felt at home on campus. The College changed my life; it's a huge part of who I am, and it always will be.”
When asked what the most rewarding part of his career has been, Bartolozzi doesn’t think of buildings or the funds he’s raised; he thinks of Commencement.
“Watching students walk across the stage at Commencement and knowing we helped make that possible, that’s why we do this work,” Bartolozzi said.
Throughout his career, Bartolozzi has been known for putting people first. He forms relationships by showing up consistently, listening, and earning trust. He’s even been invited to alums' children’s weddings and milestone birthday celebrations—essentially welcomed into their families.
“What’s made my job so rewarding, and to a certain degree easier, is that I’m talking with folks who have a common interest and passion: Lake Forest College,” Bartolozzi explained. “The beauty of it, too, is that the relationships I've formed have turned into friendships that will last a lifetime. I’m just so fortunate.”
As Bartolozzi enters retirement, he leaves behind more than a record of successful fundraising. His legacy lives in the relationships he built, the trust he earned, and the countless students whose lives were changed because alumni and donors chose to invest in their education. While his role on campus may be ending, Bartolozzi’s connection to Lake Forest College and his impact on its future will always remain.
“I’m going to travel and golf even more than I do now, but the College will always be in my heart,” Bartolozzi shared. “I’ll be at Homecoming every year—you can find me in the beer tent with Spike!”
As Bartolozzi prepares for his last day of work on July 31, 2026, the Lake Forest College community thanks him for his years of service and wishes him all the best in his well-earned retirement.
“I’ve always felt at home on campus,” Bartolozzi reflected. “The College changed my life; it's a huge part of who I am, and it always will be."