Longtime educator honored at Camden Co. College

Camden County College's student services center now has a name that rings familiar to many in South Jersey's education community.

The school paid tribute to Louis Cappelli Sr. one year to the day after his death by naming the center, which handles enrollment, registration and other services, in Taft Hall at the school's Blackwood campus in his honor in a ceremony Friday afternoon.

His son, Camden County Freeholder-Director Lou Cappelli Jr., said his family was "very much honored and touched by the dedication."

"My dad was the first in his family to attend college; his father was an immigrant from Italy," Cappelli said Friday.

"He truly valued how much education meant to people who wanted to advance in life, and dedicated his life to education and focused on students."

The senior Cappelli was a member of the Camden County College's Board of Trustees from 1997 until he died at the age of 80 on Feb. 12, 2015. As a board member, he served in various capacities, including on its business affairs and campus development committees, academic affairs committee and the Camden County College Foundation Board.

"He played a very active role in expanding the curriculum and made sure the college presented the best opportunities for students," his son said.

During a career spanning more than 35 years in education, Cappelli spent 24 years as principal at Triton Regional High School in Runnemede and on the Collingswood Board of Education. In addition, he was a member of the Sons of Italy and served on the board of directors for the Cerebral Palsy School of Camden County.

"He thought everyone had an obligation to serve their community in any way they could," Cappelli said.

Phaedra Trethan: (856) 486-2417; ptrethan@gannettnj.com