Union City School Business Administrator Anthony N. Dragona was recently honored by the Association of School Business Officials International with its Distinguished Professional Eagle Award, given to business officials who exemplify leadership in the profession. As an educator for more than 30 years in the Union City School District, Mr. Dragona was overjoyed to become a recipient of the award.
Mr. Dragona’s professional life has taken many different turns and avocational twists, but education is where he has truly settled into as his guiding profession. Beginning his educational career as a social studies teacher in 1975 at Union Hill High School, he went on to become the Assistant Athletic Director in 1979, and then moved-up the ladder to vice principal and then to principal at the Roosevelt School in Union City from 1982 to 1985. In 1998, he was appointed to school business administrator of the Union City Board of Education, and hasn’t looked back, as he has found his niche.
Since receiving the cherished Eagle Award at the organizations International Annual Meeting held in held in Chicago, Illinois at their Exhibits showcase, he was also awarded a $2,500 college scholarship to be given to a lucky student as a Crystal Eagle Award.
As the current vice president of the New Jersey Business Officials Association, he is slated to be rotated as its next president for 2011, and is very excited with the privilege. For those who know Mr. Dragona as a friend for many years, he had a past professional life as an elected Union City Commissioner from 1983 to 1986, and oversaw the Department of Public Safety. He was also the Chairman of the Union City Democratic Party from 1981 to 1986, under the tutelage of the legendary and now deceased former Mayor and State Senator William V. Musto, and also served as a commissioner with his wife, Rhyta Musto, for a time, as well as former Mayor Arthur Wichert, also an educator.
Mr. Dragona is the proud son of his loving mother Millie, who turned 87-years old this past February, and his deceased loving father Anthony, Sr. He has a sister Carol who also resides in Union City, and he is married to his lovely wife Sandy who is the manager of Panico’s Salon and Spa in Ridgewood, New Jersey. His wife is of Cuban descent, and they are husband and wife owners of a catering business called Cater-2-U which caters to private parties, Tailgate Parties, and corporate picnics, etc., which, starting as a hobby, became an avocation.
The Dragonas have two sons, Anthony Jr. and Alex, and both under their watchful eyes may someday become entrepreneurs. Mr. Dragona also has other hobbies, such as photography and gardening, and he recently exhibited some of his photography at the Union City Board of Education. As for travel, he and his wife like to travel the Caribbean, especially to Jamaica, and as for sports, he is a New York Giants fan.
Professionally, he has traveled cross-country to give presentations at conferences and leadership forums, and is currently studying for a Doctoral Degree in Organizational Leadership and School Business Management at Nova Southeastern University in Florida. As for old friends, he works with Superintendent of Union City Schools Stanley “Sandy” Sanger, and stays in contact with Union City Deputy Mayor Nicholas Mastorelli. When Anthony Dragona was asked if the years gone by have changed him in any way, he quickly said “no,” and that he was as “charming as ever!” Yes, that means that he still has a sense of humor. Tony Dragona – All the Best!…
United States Army Spec. Rudnell I. Potter recently participated in the Spirit of America-2009 performance in Columbus, Ohio and in Fairfax, Virginia, and also in Providence, Rhode Island. Army Spec. Potter is the son of Damary E. Potter of West New York. Congratulations! …
Charles P. Drago of Guttenberg was named to the Dean’s List at Western New England College in Springfield, Massachusetts. Best wishes Mr. Drago! …
United States Air Force Airman Jose L. Ramos has graduated from Basic Military Training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. Airman Ramos is the son of Yvonne Augusto of Secaucus. Best of luck Airman Ramos! …
Hudson County Surrogate-Judge Donald W. DeLeo of North Bergen tells us that he will be addressing the St. Joseph’s Senior Citizen’s Club on the subject of Updated Information on Wills, Living Wills, Living Trusts, and Stories form your Hudson County Surrogate’s Court on Monday, March 15, 2010 at St. Michael’s Madonna Hall, Church Lane, between 23rd and 24th Streets, in Bayonne, New Jersey. Readers, get into your automobiles, and drive down there. The free seminar is well worth the trip!
Readers, we recently called Weehawken Township Hall and Police Officer Joseph “Joe the Rock” LoRocco answered the phone, and it was a pleasant surprise, because Joe the Rock is a great policeman, and he does a great job for the citizens. Mayor Richard Turner, you read it here! …
North Hudson readers, recently our very talented Editor-in-Chief Caren Matzner did a story in our Midweek Reporter regarding the new reform elected Mayor Dawn Zimmer of Hoboken, and I was truly interested in her New Hampshire background and the fact that as our editor said, Mayor Zimmer has been living in Hoboken only a short time and now is its mayor. In short, Mayor Zimmer has no known alliances with past political organizations, and thus is probably the first real reformer in Hudson County history in a century or more. Thus, it would seem that reform has set-up a beach head in Hoboken, and as a prototype, will of course now have to thrive or fall all on its own. The mention of Councilman Michael Lenz in the article does give this new administration some glue to possibly hold things together. Only time will tell! As for Editor Matzner, I also liked her bringing in Mayor Zimmer’s family background, which made for human-interest reading. To my editor (Psst…the gal that got away, aw – shucks; a great story, great job!) …
And so it goes … until next time … see you around town … MATT.
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 St, Hoboken, NJ 07030. “THANK YOU!”