Preschool building named for Casimer M. Dallago Jr.

Casimer M. Dallago Jr., a man described as “a modest, sincere gentleman who gave time to listen to all concerns whether at work or school board meetings, always very approachable, and always open to new ideas,” received unanimous support from the Vineland Board of Education on Wednesday and thus will have the new preschool building at the Vineland Community Learning Complex named in his honor.

The meeting was held in the cafetorium at the new school with an audience comprised mainly of supporters for each of the four candidates.

Mr. Dallago, who died in 2001 at the age of 49 after a heroic struggle with cancer, was a lifelong Vineland resident and local businessman who was president of the Board of Education for three terms. A graduate of St. Augustine Prep School and Villanova University, he was an accountant and tax expert but was best known for operating “Casey’s Market” the family store located on the Boulevard within sight of the building that will now bear his name.

Mr. Dallago was among four nominees for the honor. The others were Mr. Salvatore Ciarlante, a teacher and coach in Vineland for 17 years; Mr. Carmelo Ramos, assistant principal at VHS North, principal of Mennies Elementary School, teacher and involved member of the community;  and  Mr. Juan Vargas, an active member of the community of Hispanic descent.

In January, the board voted unanimously to name the new K-5 portion of the Vineland Community Learning Complex in honor of Gloria M. Sabater, a Vineland High School North Spanish teacher who died of cancer in 1994 at age 43.

    Nominees for both honors had to meet the following criteria:

     ●   Be deceased for a minimum of five years;

     ●   Be an individual with a long time commitment to the Vineland community and dedicated to fulfilling the mission and vision of the Vineland School District; and

     ●   Be an individual who made a significant contribution to the educational process of Vineland Public Schools.    

Surrounded by members of the Dallago family, Mrs. Elaine Greenberg, herself a former school board member, spoke on behalf of the Dallago nomination.

  “Casey was highly respected for all he did for the city of Vineland schools, both public and parochial,” said Greenberg. “Casey’s service on the Vineland school board can never be matched.  Casey was the catalyst for our new school construction.  His background in finance, along with his vision for facility growth made it possible for Vineland to construct three new schools as well as for major additions placed onto some of our older schools. It would be wonderful if Casey were here with us and could look across the street from Casey’s Market, where he worked with his father, and see this beautiful new facility we are in this evening.”

   “I cannot tell all of Casey’s devoted service to Vineland in five minutes or less,” said Greenberg, “but I can read you a letter that pretty much sums up the man that Casey Dallago was.  This is a letter from the faculty of Dane Barse School.”

“We are writing this letter on behalf of Mr. Casey Dallago.  It is our understanding that the IMPACT (preschool) center will soon be named.  What better individual to be recognized than Mr. Dallago.  We personally came to know Casey as a parent to his children Lauren and Casey, Jr. who were our students.  His number one priority was always for children.  He displayed that by becoming a valid member of the Barse PTO and then climbing the ranks to Vineland School Board president.  His roots were on Southwest Boulevard, where he worked for more than 40 years.  How appropriate it would be for this center to bear his name, as children were first in his life.”

The letter was signed by 16 staff members of the school.

Prior to the actual vote, Greenberg presented to each board member  a packet of photographs, letters of recommendation and praise of Mr. Dallago and newspaper clippings recounting his accomplishments as a community volunteer.

Since there were only four nominees, board members were polled and announced their choices verbally. Mr. Dallago was the overwhelming favorite and the final vote was unanimous in his favor.

Most of the current board members either served with Mr. Dallago or knew him well. All spoke with fondness and respect for his service.  The statements of Frank Giordano, Board President, were typical of the admiration Mr. Dallago inspired.

“He stepped down as board president but continued on the board in the final months of his life,” said Giordano. “I visited not long before he died --  he was obviously very, very ill. But what he wanted to talk about was school board business, and as usual, he had keen insights and offered good advice. I was so impressed and humbled by that experience.  I will never forget it.”