“THIS BUSINESSWOMAN IS FOLLOWING THE FAMILY EDUCATIONAL TRADITION!!!” Recent Secaucus Board of Education election winner Dora Marra tells us that she is fulfilling a family tradition by becoming an elected member of the town’s school board and that she found out that it was not an easy task!
Ms. Marra, who was born at Jersey City’s Christ Hospital, has been a resident of Secaucus all her life and is married to Mark Titmas, and is related to the Marra Pharmacist family of the town! Her family, which will be celebrating their 85th year in the pharmacy business this autumn 2008, owes their lineage to her grandfather Gerard Sr., now deceased, who came from Jersey City and who is the “founder” of the family business! The pharmacy is presently owned by three brothers, the founder’s sons, who are Angelo, her father, and her uncles Gerard Jr. and Michael. The present owners were all born in Secaucus, Ms. Marra says, and at one time she also worked as an attendant at the pharmacy with the family. Her brother Darin is also a pharmacist and her other brother Angelo II is an electrician with Local 164, AFL/CIO.
In 1984 Ms. Marra achieved an Associates of Arts Degree at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City, in the course area of Store Planning and Environmental Design. Before this, she studied Art and Environmental Design at Syracuse University in upstate New York!
In 1985, Ms. Marra went to Houston, Texas for two years and learned the trade of store planning and merchandising at the prominent retail giant there, Foles Department Stores, and then came back to Secaucus, where she founded her own company called “Headdress NY.” She now has offices in Secaucus, Manhattan and in Dallas, Texas! As of 2008, Ms. Marra proudly states that she is celebrating 28 years in her own business! As a designer and creator of woman’s accessories, she also proudly tells us that she won four “EARNIE Awards” in Manhattan, which are known in the fashion industry as the Children’s Fashion’s Awards! Other winners along with her were Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger and Walt Disney and she was proud to be selected among such giants in the industry!
Ms. Marra has also appeared on the Joan Rivers Show regarding Successful Women in Business in the late 1990s on Channel 9 TV, and her designs have appeared in Cosmopolitan, Vogue, In Style and on the cover of Rolling Stone Magazine!
With the passing of her beloved mother Doris, Ms. Marra tells us that her father Angelo, when he has some downtime, offers his help as a “shipper” in her business.
As for the town of Secaucus, Ms. Marra tells us that she is a volunteer with the High School Acting Group, and the Secaucus Free Public Library. As for the Board of Education, she tells us that her grandfather was a member for 40 years and her Uncle Michael was also a member. Furthermore, her cousin Michael and his son Christopher were also members. Thus, she felt that she would like to become a member, and she has found that the task at hand was most “physically demanding” and that she now has a renewed respect and appreciation for other members and former candidates who have been there with their energy, namely people like Eleanor Reinl and Thomas Troyer! Such people want to serve their community and unselfishly do so, and she is proud of these energetic types of people, states Ms. Marra!
As a new board member, Ms. Marra also tells us that she aims to seek more resident participation at the meetings and also wants to have the meetings televised on local Cable Television for viewers! Ms. Marra will be chairing the Curriculum Committee and is now a member of the Finance Committee. Moreover, aside from her business, the Board of Education and her family, Ms. Marra is also a member of the Secaucus UNICO, of which her father and two uncles were all named “Men of the Year” in the past! In conclusion, and in her new role as a Board of Education Member, Ms. Marra states that “Children Come First,” and she aims to work hard on behalf of the Youth of Secaucus! Dora Marra, with those goals, all the best!!!…
Guttenberg’s new Mayor James Hannon tells us that “yes” that he has also been a patron of Hair Stylist Georgio “The Barber” Barlaam of Guttenberg, at his Barber Shop in North Bergen. Thus, Giorgio The Barber has styled and cut every Guttenberg mayor’s hair since the legendary deceased Mayor Herman Klein of over 40 years ago. Way to go Giorgio!!!…
West New York elected Commissioner Michelle Fernandez-Lopez tells us that she will be traveling to the University of Salamanca in Madrid, Spain during the month of July 2008 to achieve a Master’s Degree in Spanish Studies for five weeks and will return in the month of August. Her husband Walter will be holding down the fort at home in West New York in meantime. Congratulations and bon voyage Commissioner Fernandez-Lopez!!!…
Fritz Reuter Lifecare Retirement Community at the Fritz Reuter Antenheim in North Bergen must be the place to be living, as their articles and advertisements showcase so many happy faces, namely Anna Savino, Anthony Prizzi, Joseph Ranieri and William Trezise. Yes, smile and the whole world smiles with you !!! Best wishes to you all!..
Union City Deputy Mayor Nicholas Mastorelli writes us as he puts on his sporting cap, and touts two Union City natives, none other than brothers Tom and Richie O’Connor, regarding their national accomplishments in the basketball sports world and how proud he is of them both, as he knew them from many years ago and also as their sport coach in their formative years. Great Going Nick “The Whizzer” Mastorelli!!!…
The Outstanding Senior Citizens of Hudson County, as announced by Hudson County Executive Thomas DeGise of Jersey City, listed as their Weehawken Senior Citizen of the Year George Pizzuta of the township. Former Hudson County Freeholder Francis “Frank” Pizzuta proudly tells us that George is his loving brother. He is very, very happy for the accolade that was bestowed on his brother. Congratulations to the Pizzutas of Weehawken…and so it goes…until next year…see you around town…”MATT.”
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