VERONA-CEDAR GROVE

Verona school library makeover honors late resident

Joshua Jongsma
NorthJersey

Thomas Falcone’s name will forever be a part of Verona’s schools.

Verona Forest Avenue Elementary School SCA President Lisa Loudon, at right, presents flowers to Dominick and Cathryn Falcone, the parents of Thomas Falcone, on June 7, 2017.

A $10,000 donation in the late Verona resident’s name went toward a total makeover of the Forest Avenue Elementary School Library. Additional donations from the School Community Association brought the total for the library up to $29,200.

The fundraising started two years ago when the library was in rough shape, according to Principal Jeffrey Monacelli.

“The rugs were ripped in here,” Monacelli said. “The shelves were aging, some of them were sagging. We didn’t have a real circulation desk over here. We said, 'What can we do?'”

Casino nights, car washes and gifts from the graduating class played a large part when the Thomas J. Falcone Memorial Fund stepped in. Falcone attended Verona’s schools but at the age of 16 he was diagnosed with a brain malformation. He underwent many procedures with his last one in 2004, which resulted in hemorrhaging and massive neurological damage. Two years later he died at the age of 35.

Dominick Falcone, Thomas’ father, said the foundation donated to many of Verona’s school over the years. The Forest Avenue library now includes a plaque with his name on the wall, which Thomas' mother Cathryn said she appreciated.

A plaque in honor of Thomas J. Falcone of Verona placed in the Forest Avenue Elementary School Library.

“We’re just elated that it can go to good use in Verona,” Dominick Falcone said, adding that Verona made his son into the man that he was. 

The donations led to new carpeting, paint, furniture, a circulation desk and a remodeled area in the back for students at Forest. 

Superintendent of Schools Rui Dionisio recalled the state of the library when his son, who is now at the high school, attended Forest Avenue Elementary.

“I remember this library when my son was here and this is a huge improvement considering where we came from,” Dionisio said.

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Around $6,000 remains from the donations to the library so the improvements will continue, according to Monacelli. A new projector and a mural may be added among other upgrades, the principal said. 

In addition to the local schools, the Thomas J. Falcone Fund also donated to The Cleveland Institute for arteriovenous malformation, the Aneurysm and AVM Foundation, Kelleigh’s Cause, Rosepetals foundation for ill children, the Valerie Fund and other organizations. 

Lisa Loudon, the president of the Forest Avenue SCA, thanked the Falcone family along with the other members of the community who supported the library.

“They are truly the best people that I could ever hope to work with on the SCA,” Loudon said. 

Email: jongsma@northjersey.com