Founded by Natelli Communities for Urbana High School graduates exhibiting dedication to volunteerism.
Anthony “Tony” Natelli was synonymous with Gaithersburg-based Natelli Communities, the real estate development firm he formed with his son Thomas. Natelli Communities positively transformed the landscape of Frederick County by developing the communities of Dearbought in Frederick, Glenbrook in Middletown and the Villages of Urbana in Urbana, all known for their community-oriented development philosophy, thoughtful planning and timeless design. A New Jersey native, Mr. Natelli began his career in the accounting field at Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co. (now KPMG), where he served as managing partner of the company’s offices in Italy and later in Washington, DC. He left the accounting field for a successful second career in real estate in 1977, becoming a land developer in both Frederick and Montgomery counties. Mr. Natelli was the force behind the development of Avenel in Potomac, turning the once forlorn site of a planned sewage treatment facility into a prestigious community of over 900 homes and a championship golf course that has hosted a PGA Tour event for over a decade. In 1996, Mr. Natelli earned the Urban Land Institute Award of Excellence for the finest planned community in the nation for his visionary work on Avenel. His civic consciousness, community service and involvement in charitable endeavors defined his hands-on business style as did his commitment to his family. He was devoted to his wife Trudy of 47 years, his five children Nancy, Tony, Thomas, Mary, and Michael, fifteen grandchildren, one great-grandchild, and his sons and daughters-in-law Steve, Christine, Karen, Tim, and Jessica. After Mr. Natelli passed away at the age of 67 of a cerebral hemorrhage in March 2004, his son Thomas turned to the Community Foundation and made a founding gift to establish The Anthony M. Natelli Memorial Scholarship Fund to continue reaching out to those in Frederick County’s premier planned community built by Natelli Communities. The Fund awards annual scholarships to Urbana High School graduates. Preference is given to those graduates exhibiting exemplary community service above minimum graduation requirements and demonstrating a commitment to volunteerism.
