Sam Palazzo, Class of 1999
Law Enforcement – Police Officer
- Twenty year veteran at Harwood Heights Police Department, currently at the rank of Sergeant
- School Resource Officer at Ridgewood Community High School for fifteen years
- Dare Instructor at Union Ridge Elementary School for 10 years
- Head of Harwood Heights Police Department Juvenile Division
- Member of the Harwood Heights Police Department Investigations Unit for five years
- Volunteer Coach for Norridge/Harwood Heights Little League
- Baseball and Football Coach at Ridgewood Community High School
- Volunteer Mentor at Ridgewood Community High School and Union Ridge Elementary School
- Member of Ridgewood Foundation Board
- Norridge School District 80 Board President
Russell Charles Stokes, Class of 1971
Law Enforcement and Public Administration
- Graduate of Chicago Police Academy, 1976
- Degree in Executive Management from Northwestern University Traffic Institute, 1999
- Crime Scene Technician, 1979
- Roselle Police/Fire Investigator and Liaison to the Illinois State Fire Marshall’s Office, 1983
- Promoted to detective in 1986
- Received 49 department Commendations, 9 commendations from State and Federal Agencies and 13 Mayoral Commendations from 1978 through 1998
- Trustee for the Roselle Police Pension Board
- Chief of Police for the town of Cortland, Illinois from 1998 through 2010
- President of DeKalb County Law Enforcement Executive Association
- Mayor of Cortland, Illinois from April 2013 to April 2021
Michael Allegretti, Class of 1970
Baker/Owner of Allegretti’s Bakery
- My career at the Bakery began when I was 18 years old and my Dad, the original owner, asked me to decorate the front windows for Christmas
- We have been featured on television stations ABC, CBS, NBC, WGN and WTTW for our Bakery Specialties and on the Hungry Hound Television Show with Steve Dolinsky
- Voted Chicago’s Best Donuts from the viewers of Chicago’s Best television show
- Voted Chicago’s Best Donuts from the viewers of Chicago’s Best television show
- Honored as being the oldest business in Norridge
- Logo for Allegretti’s Bakery was used as a city sticker for the town of Norridge
- Awarded by the State of Illinois for the Bakery’s 50 years of good standin
- Allegretti’s box and donuts were featured on the television show Chicago Fire
- Served breakfast to members of the crews of Chicago Fire and Chicago PD television shows and the Batman movie.
- Winner of Harlem Avenue Italian American Business Cuccidati Cookie Contest
- Allegretti cannolis have been featured in travel books as being the best cannolis
- Our donations to the community include church fundraisers, carnivals, pot luck dinners and Saint Joseph tables. We have also donated to many different Boy and Girl Scout troops as well as many grammar and high school fundraisers, dances, graduations, National Honor Society celebrations and retirement ceremonies. We have donated our items to Cancer Walks, Autism Speaks, Alzheimer’s Association, Shop with a Cop and Toys for Tots to name a few.
- Served our items to first responders that work on the holidays
- Played Santa for many groups and charities