Susan Shababb-Pirro of Secaucus has had a varied career-life, but she has learned from all her experiences! Born in Jersey City, and raised in Union City, she is the daughter of the very friendly and popular, but now deceased, Henry “Hank” Shababb, and her lovely mother Mary Kassab-Shababb, who lives in Secaucus. This Columnist remembers her father fondly, and was introduced to him years ago in Union City!
Ms. Pirro was a graduate of Emerson High School in Union City in 1973, and immediately joined the workforce in New York City, performing secretarial work, and soon afterward went into retail-sales in fashion on Madison Avenue in Manhattan. Following that, she went into jewelry-sales on Fifth Avenue, and then opened her own retail-jewelry shop in the Wall Street area financial section in 1983, as a proprietor. Then in 1997, she moved the business into Secaucus, but in 2003, closed the business. That same year in September, she was offered a position in the payroll department at the Union City Board of Education, and has worked herself up to the position of health benefits administrator, which is her present title and position, and makes her proud, because the journey has taken her to this professional status in a new career-path in life!
Ms. Pirro also tells us that her father was a physical education teacher and then a supervisor at the Union City Board of Education, and her mother was a teacher aide within the school system. Her brother Michael was a former Trustee of the North Hudson Community Action Corporation, which at the time was situated in Union City, but now is situated in West New York. Present Union City Deputy Mayor Nicholas Mastorelli was the founder of the NHCAC and its first executive director. Later, former and deceased Union City elected Commissioner Michael Leggiero became its next executive director and cultivated the NHCAC further. Ms. Pirro’s brother, Michael Shababb, is still with the NHCAC, but is now its chief financial officer, and is also an accountant!
Ms. Pirro also tells us that she has three other brothers; Steven who lives in Union City, Robert who lives in Secaucus, and Richard who lives in Fairfield, New Jersey. Ms. Pirro also has a sister Lori Maione who lives in Weehawken, and works for the public safety director in Weehawken. She has another sister Karen Wilson, who is currently the principal of the Jefferson School in Union City. Ms. Pirro proudly states that she has three daughters, named Christie, Lauren, and Cheryl, the apples of her eye!
As for the Town of Secaucus, Ms. Pirro proudly states that she was a two-term former elected Board of Education member, from 2002 to 2008. She has also been involved with the Secaucus Parent-Teachers Association, and was a past president of the High School/Middle School Parent-Teachers Association. Ms. Pirro also tells us that she was also an Advisory Council Member of the Secaucus Community Education Program for 2-terms/2-years!
In this past June’s Democratic Primary Election, she ran for Third Ward Councilwoman but lost the election after a hard race, but was happy with her many experiences. She says that she wants to continue to be an advocate and voice of the people of Secaucus, and an active member of her community!
Ms. Pirro tells us that domestically, she loves to cook, especially Italian and Mid-Eastern dishes. She is of Syrian-American heritage, and a member of the Saint George Antiochian Orthodox Church in Little Falls, New Jersey. As for sports, she loves the New York Yankees, New York Giants, and the New York Rangers. As for music, she loves contemporary music, Rock and Roll, Frank Sinatra and Billy Joel. For exercise, she likes to walk, and she likes the shore/beach for leisure. She has traveled to Florida, California, Las Vegas, Nevada and to Hawaii. She has also traveled to the Caribbean Islands, and to Mexico.
Other community memberships that Ms. Pirro has been active in are the Secaucus Chapter of UNICO, and the March of Dimes. As for her position as health benefits administrator for the Union City Board of Education, she says that she gets calls daily from upcoming retirees, and retirees, and people today do worry about their benefits during these times of economic uncertainty, and she does her best to help them all wade through their records, whenever and wherever possible. Ms. Pirro also thought that perhaps President Barack Obama would like to learn about the North Hudson Community Action Corporation and perhaps see how such an organization has been successful with health care on a county level for 30-years, and therefore find a possible solution to some of the nation’s health care woes, by using NHCAC as a model! Not a bad idea Ms. Susan Shababb-Pirro. All the Best!!!
Daniel J. Waddleton of Guttenberg, who is a former Jersey City Councilman, tells us that his son John Thomas Waddleton has completed the United States Military Intelligence School at Fort Huachuca in Arizona, and is coming home this month of August. Congratulations John Thomas!!!
Reverend Jozef Krajnak, S.D.B., has been appointed parochial vicar, at Saint Joseph’s of the Palisades Roman Catholic Parish, in West New York, announced Archbishop John J. Myers, of the Archdiocese of Newark, New Jersey. Good Luck Reverend Krajnak!!!
Alicia Alonso and Oraimo Bruno of North Bergen have been inducted into the New Jersey City University Chapter of the National Spanish Honor Society, Sigma Delta Pi, in Jersey City. Best wishes to both of you!!!
And so it goes… until next time… see you around town… “MATT”
***PLEASE NOTE:
*(Readers who would like to contribute to this Column can do so by mailing your news items and photographs, along with your name, address, and telephone number to: “Matthew Amato,” Columnist, c/o The Hudson Reporter, 1400 Washington Street, Hoboken, New Jersey 07030. “Thank You!”)*