C
WHERE ARE THESE
lass of
‘96
MUSTANGS NOW?
Laura Castronovo Lefton, her husband, Dan, with Emily and Jake
Still in the Game Laura (Castronovo) Lefton has many great memories of CHS, and a lot of them happened on the Mustang softball fields and volleyball courts. “I enjoyed the practices and games, especially the relationships I had with my teammates and coaches,” the ‘96 grad said recently. Several teammates remain close friends today. Memorable coaches include Rich LaDuke, “Very strict, but an amazing person,” she said, and volleyball coach Lynn Tuorto. She also spent much of her formative years at Giants Stadium and the Meadowlands Arena. It wasn’t just because she loved going to concerts and sporting events, either. Her father, Robert Castronovo Sr., a ‘66 Mustang, was the COO and Senior Executive VP of Giants Stadium and Continental Airlines Arena. “It was amazing. I grew up privileged to be there.” She was also influenced positively by her time at the Stadium and Arena. “It was a home away from home,” Lefton noted. “The staff was like a family to me.” Studying at the University of Massachusetts, she followed her interests by working in the box office at UMASS’ Mullins Center. She graduated in 2000. Her experience with Ticketmaster at Mullins led to her being hired by Madison Square Garden as a marketing/research coordinator. It was another priceless learning experience. She loved watching big-timers such as
Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston during their preconcert dress rehearsals at the Garden. She then worked for the New Jersey Nets as Manager and Director of Marketing. She will never forget that she had a hand in securing the recordbreaking $400 million naming-rights deal for the Nets’ Barclays Center. Much like her father, Lefton moved way, way up thanks to her knowledge and experience. She is now working for the NFL as Director of Club Business and Corporate Development. She works with all 32 teams to ensure each team is making enough revenue. But Lefton remains connected to CHS. She gets together once a month with her friends and old teammates that include Adria (Dezzane) Andriola, Karen (Affinito) Greco and Tara Sieradzki. All of their kids play together at the meet-ups. She lives in North Caldwell with her husband, Dan, and two children, Emily and Jake. Lefton also visits her parents often. She is still connected to the Giants Stadium and Meadowlands crews of her youth. “I still keep in touch with them today,” she said. Lefton will always be thankful that her interest in sports put her on the right path. “The events I attended really led to me doing what I do today,” she noted. Clifton Merchant • July 2016
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