For the past two decades, Passaic County Technical Institute’s Education Foundation has been spearheading community outreach initiatives to raise funds for student scholarships and faculty grants. This year’s Annual Golf Scholarship Classic, the organization’s largest event, raised an outstanding $85,000! The event was hosted at the exclusive Knoll Country Club West on Tuesday, October 3rd. More than a combined one hundred and forty golfers and dinner guests, as well as numerous sponsors, supported the event.
As part of the Foundation’s twenty-year anniversary celebration, the Education Foundation honored two of its founding members – Lou Duva and Lou Cuccinello – the full lives they lived, and the sadness of their passing. Family members were invited to attend and accepted awards on behalf of the “Two Great Lou’s.” Chairman of the New Jersey Democratic State Committee, John Currie was present and spoke highly of both Lou’s and their immense contributions to their communities. “They had hearts of gold. You really could not find two better guys,” he added.
Both Lou’s grew up in Paterson, New Jersey and were trustees of the Passaic County Technical Institute High School Education Foundation.
Lou Duva is known as one of boxing’s most formidable figures as a promoter, manager, and trainer. His career spanned seven decades and he had ties to more than a dozen world champions. He was also known for owning a Paterson-based trucking company and later opening a gym above a theater in Paterson where he signed-on boxers. Lou Duva was enshrined in the International Boxing Hall of Fame, the New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame, and the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame.
Lou Cuccinello’s memorable achievements include being inducted into the Paterson Old Timers Baseball Hall of Fame in 1997, the Bergen County Semi Pro Baseball Hall of Fame in 1978, the Man of the Year Paterson Youth Guidance Council, and Eastside High School Hall of Fame 2003. In 2010, he was honored at Lou Cuccinello Day in the City of Paterson. Lou Cuccinello was a great supporter of the Riverside Vets organization and he was also honored with the naming of the press box at Pennington Park which bears his name.
President of the Education Foundation Al Alexander lauded both Lou’s for their mentorship of younger generations, especially within their roles of PCTI’s Education Foundation. He went on to explain that events like the annual Golf Scholarship Classic provide student scholarships and faculty mini-grants at Passaic County Technical Institute. “Thank you to all who volunteered their time and efforts, and to those who generously support our endeavors. It’s because of you that we’re able to aid in furthering the education of our deserving students at PCTI.”
PCTI’s Education Foundation has raised more than a million dollars since the organization’s inception twenty years ago.
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PCTI’s Education Foundation Holds Annual Golf Scholarship Classic, Pays Tribute to Founding Members Lou Duva & Lou Cuccinello President of PCTI’s Education Foundation Al Alexander joins Sandy Wilson and Pat Haliskoe (Cuccinello’s daughters, Ramsey & Wayne), NJ Democratic State Committee Chairman John Currie, Deanne Boorman (Duva’s daughter, Wayne), Dino Duva (Duva’s son, Bloomfield) and Education Foundation Treasurer Michael Coscia (North Haledon) in honoring the memory of founding foundation members Lou Cuccinello and Lou Duva. |