JAMES J. RONGA

Funeral services were held Dec. 15 for James J. Ronga, 72, a lifelong resident of Hoboken. He passed away peacefully on Dec. 11 surrounded by his family. He was the husband of Janet Ronga; father of his children, Joseph, Lisa, Jonathan, and his fiancée Margaret. James is survived by one aunt, and his godmother Dolores Cospito. He is also survived by many relatives, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. James was predeceased by his parents, Anna Pasquale and Joseph, and his brother, Carmine. James graduated from Hoboken High School in January 1966 and attended Wagner College, Staten Island, NY. James graduated from Wagner in 1970 and received a master’s degree from Jersey City State College in 1976. James was hired by the Hoboken Board of Education as a Special Education teacher in 1970. He also coached the Hoboken High School football team, the Hoboken Young Dems Little League team, and the Ronga Association Girls Softball Team. In 1976 James became the Director of Athletics for Hoboken High School. James was especially proud of improving and expanding the program and adding many Freshmen, JV, and Girls Teams. James felt the Hoboken High School students deserved only the best. In 1986 James became Vice Principal of Hoboken High School and later became the Director of Special Services for the Board of Education. James also worked for the Hoboken Municipal Government as a Health Inspector, Project Manager, and finished his career as the Director of Environmental Services. James was a founding and lifetime member of the Hoboken Young Democrats. James was inducted into the Hoboken/Demarest High Schools Sports Hall of Fame in April 2019 and became a board member later that year. James loved sports and believed sports were the best way to prepare a child for life.