Page 3 - NBY News February 2019

Senior in Action:
Senior in Action: Sonny Cusumano
Senior in Action:
Senior in Action:
Senior in Action:
Sonny Cusumano
Sonny Cusumano
Sonny Cusumano
Sonny Cusumano
by Marilee Marrero Stefenhagan roots and spent two weeks visiting other
When asked how he stays active, Sonny Italian cities and the island of Sicily.
shared that it’s a relief not to be as busy as he Knowing his grandparents were born in
was in the restaurant business for twenty- Sicily made the trip personal, and he even
three years. Now retired, he can choose how located a Cusumano Winery outside
he wants to spend his leisure time; traveling, Palermo. Now Cristina and two
spoiling his grandchildren, playing golf, and adorable grandkids live nearby in
doing odd jobs around the house. Mission Viejo, and his younger daughter
The most enjoyable part of his retirement
years is the ability to travel. After founding Danielle lives in San Diego - close
enough for fun times together.
NY’s Upper Crust Pizza in Laguna Niguel in Sports are a favorite pursuit for Sonny.
1991, he had to steal days away from the He plays in an adult ice hockey league.
demanding family business. The restaurant They practice at a rink in Aliso Viejo,
specialized in selling pizza by the slice, as and evening games range from La Jolla
well as calzones, salads, and submarine to Carlsbad. He started playing roller
sandwiches. Sonny explained he started NY’s hockey when he was ten years old, and
Upper Crust Pizza when he
couldn’t find a restaurant in
southern California that served Sonny Cusumano
pizza as satisfyingly delicious as
the pies he enjoyed in Brooklyn.
Eventually, Sonny sold the owner-
operator licensing concept 4.5
years ago to a company who is
now franchising in eleven western
states. Sonny remains attached to
the business as Founder/VP of
Business Development.
Born in 1955 and raised in
Brooklyn, Sonny hated winters.
He remembered as a youth
watching LA Rams vs. NY Giants
football games played in Los
Angeles where the temperature
was 80 degrees on the west coast
and 20 degrees in NY. The
seductive warm weather planted
the notion in Sonny’s mind that
California would be the perfect
place to enjoy outdoor life and
raise a family. He never still loves hockey, as well as following
envisioned that fifty years later he would be the pro teams, in particular, the New
taking day trips on a Harley Davidson York Rangers. He traveled to the tropics
motorcycle through the winding mountain in Aruba and the Bahamas for golf-
roads of Temecula or Julian, California. inspired trips with buddies where he
Sonny’s first job was with his father’s savored world class eateries and
company which manufactured printing challenging golf courses. His golfing
supplies. In 1988, the opportunity came to friends are fellow alumnae from his
move west to California when a sales college years at Pace University, where
management company offered him a similar Sonny acquired his Bachelor’s in
position to the sales work he did for his dad. Accounting and Finance in 1977. Sonny
Business was in his blood, and with the help travels frequently to NY for an annual
of a consultant, three years later he made the Pace University Christmas Party, and to
transition from sales to the restaurant visit his sister, niece and nephew.
business. In between business consulting, travel,
High on Sonny’s priority list now that he’s sports and grandkids, Sonny manages
retired is spending time with his family. home improvement projects, gardens
Daughter Cristina chose a destination and cooks. “Mangia bene, ridi spesso,
wedding in Tuscany. After the wedding, ama molto” is Italian for Eat well, laugh
Sonny toured Tuscany and Rome with family. often, Love Much - a lifestyle which
In 2017, he returned to the land of his ancestral
Sonny highly recommends.
February 2019 3