Napolitano was born in Detroit, Michigan, he joined the U.S. Army in 1940. He was a veteran of World War II and landed on the beach in Normandy the day after D-Day and earned 2 Overseas Service Bars, an American Theater Ribbon, the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon with 1 Silver and 1 Bronze Battle Star, as well as a Good Conduct Medal and Distinguished Unit Badge. He moved to San Jose in 1946. Napolitano married Rose Continente in 1948. They had two kids. At some point he allegedly became a member of the San Jose crime family, most likely under boss Joseph Cerrito. Napolitano was a campaign official in former San Francisco Mayor and reputed mob associate Joseph Alioto's unsuccessful 1974 run for governor of California. Like many other alleged members of the San Jose mob, Napo