Last Saturday the Flight Crew and I were at the grand opening of Sweet Treats & Ice Cream. I met tons of awesome Hawk listeners, including Donna Fantacone. During our conversation, the topic of children came up, and when I mentioned I was expecting (okay technically my wife is expecting) she said she had something for my soon-to-be-born child.
Donna is the author of a new children’s book, “Officer Tony Says ‘Be Careful’“, based on her youth growing up with a police officer-father.
Donna Fantacone has a bachelor’s degree in English from William Paterson University. She has been American Red Cross Certified in Advanced Lifesaving, is currently renewing certifications for The American Red Cross CPR Certification, AED Certification, First Aid Certified, and Children’s First Aid Certified. She was a Corporate Safety Officer and Emergency First Responder for twenty years. She dedicated the book to her father, retired Police Officer, State Delegate, Detective and PBA President, Anthony Fantacone.
The book is illustrated by Francesca Leipzig Picone, who is also from New Jersey, and graduated from Kutztown University with a degree in graphic design.
You can buy the book here. Thanks to Donna for my copy, it’ll be my baby’s first book!
Born and raised in Belleville, NJ, Donna Fantacone moved and currently lives in Clifton for over 25 years. She worked full time at a Fortune 50 company for over 20 years while going to school part time to obtain her English Degree from William Paterson University, while raising her son. Donna has always been involved in Safety. She was a Lifeguard in her early college days and has always been a first responder and a Corporate Safety Health and Environment Officer. Her function was to be an emergency first responder while also identifying safety options for a campus of over four thousand people. Her main interests in college were English and Elementary Education. She was also a Cub Scout Leader while raising her son who became an Eagle Scout. Donna is Red Cross Certified in CPR, AED, and First Aid and Children’s First Aid. She’s also a Rutgers Certified Master Gardener, and part time volunteer educator for City Green, Clifton, NJ. Donna aspires to educate our youth in basic safety principles. She is the daughter of a retired police officer, Anthony Fantacone. Officer Fantacone was always a good Samaritan. Anytime the need arose and often times while out of uniform, Anthony Fantacone stopped to help anyone who was in need. She explains “Many times we were the first ones on the scene of accidents on the Garden State Parkway.” My father would never pass up anyone in need of help, just as any good Samaritan would do.” Anthony holds many letters of commendation, including "Citizen of the Year" for heroic actions while police officer, detective, and PBA President of Belleville, NJ. Donna dedicates this book to her father, Anthony Fantacone.