Faith, Family, and a Firm Foundation: The Life and Legacy of Michael J. Stavola
SPRING 2026
Faith, Family, and a Firm Foundation: The Life and Legacy of Michael J. Stavola
by William H. Stavola with Nell Whiting
ISBN: 978-1-971983-00-4
Mike Stavola, son of an Italian immigrant who arrived at the turn of the 20th century, had the rare gift of entrepreneurship. Every opportunity was assessed, weighed and determined to be worthy or not, seemingly in the blink of an eye.
Mike had a sixth sense that left colleagues and competitors several beats behind. When coupled with the incredible growth in the New Jersey economy around World War II, this gift moved Mike's family from the hard-bitten beginnings faced by so many working-class immigrants to the heights of business.
As demanding of himself as he was, he was equally demanding of others. This was the dark side of Mike Stavola. With a volatile temper, he did not suffer fools lightly. He was perceived as having a "my way or the highway" attitude. Life could be difficult for those around him, and many could not stand the heat.
But from farmer to business leader, from his father's horse drawn salvage cart to breeding thoroughbred winners, from digging house foundations with surplus Army equipment to owning state of the art quarries that take a leading role in technological advancements in road construction, Mike moved forward inexorably.
His story, warts and all, is ultimately the story of mid-century America becoming an economic powerhouse; progress pushed by men and women driven to succeed, not for the money only, but for the pride of family.
This family history is a testament to drive, instinct, and resilience.
About the Authors
The story of William “Billy” H. Stavola’s rise to head one of the premiere construction companies on the East Coast seems to defy the odds until you realize that he could have been nothing else as he was very much his father’s son.
Billy, and his brother, the beloved Mickey, had the best training possible to head a thriving business empire: their father expected nothing but quality from them from the day they could hold a cup. Sons of a man who had an extraordinary entrepreneurial gift, they learned at the knee of the best.
A proud resident of Monmouth Country for many years, Billy and his wife Maureen, a noted painter, are now residents of Florida. They have three children, each capable and creative in their own way. While others might rest on well-deserved laurels, Billy is still in the office of Trap Rock Industries, LLC as well as reaping the rewards of travel, deep sea fishing and the “occasional” round of golf. His sons Christopher and Jason now head the family business, having had their own finely tempered training from the ground up.
Nell Whiting is a retired attorney who specialized in ultra-high net worth family office management. Fascinated by the stories of her clients’ families, she pursued an avocation in writing after retirement to become a ghostwriter. Her firm belief is that every story deserves to be told. Sometimes it just takes someone else to put it on paper.
