Frank Nappa, Jr.
Founder & Chairman Emeritus
Frank Nappa, Jr. was the founder and guiding spirit of our organization, building a legacy defined by integrity, hard work, and genuine care for others. A proud United States Navy veteran who served during World War II, Frank embodied the values of America’s Greatest Generation and carried those principles with him throughout his life and career.
In 1963, Frank founded Wayne Ford with a simple but powerful philosophy: “If you are nice to people, they will be nice to you.” That belief became the foundation of our customer-first culture and remains at the heart of our business today. More than four decades later, he partnered with his son, David Nappa, to establish Dayton Toyota in South Brunswick, extending his commitment to serving customers and communities with honesty, respect, and excellence.
Frank’s greatest accomplishment was never measured by the dealerships he built, but by the relationships he cultivated. His leadership inspired extraordinary loyalty among employees, many of whom dedicated their entire careers to working alongside him. Among them is Gail Flanagan, who continues to serve as our Office Manager after more than 60 years with the organization, as well as generations of the Redmon family, whose dedication to the company spans more than four decades. These enduring relationships stand as a testament to Frank’s belief that people should be treated with kindness, respect, and appreciation. Customers, colleagues, and friends knew him as a man of integrity, humility, warmth, and unwavering optimism.
Beyond his professional achievements, Frank was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He shared 65 wonderful years of marriage with his beloved wife, Aimee, and took immense pride in the family they built together. His kindness, sense of humor, and steady guidance touched generations of family members, employees, and customers alike.
Today, Frank’s legacy lives on through the values he instilled in this organization: treating people with respect, doing business the right way, and always putting relationships first. We are proud to carry forward the standard he set and honor the example he provided every day.
