Summer 2024 - Tony Sasso

Anthony is fine; however, my friends refer to me as Tony. I’m just another kid who was born and raised in Brooklyn, playing punchball in the street, stickball in the schoolyard and riding my bike wherever and whenever I could. While surely not my first bike, the bike I remember was a black and chrome 26” 3-speed Schwinn Jaguar Mark IV, that was all decked out with a banana seat, chopper handlebars, fox tails and, of course, baseball cards clicking in the spokes. For the record, I never used my precious Yankee cards. OK, it was the early 60’s and those things were the rage.



(Not the actual bike)

Somehow, that all changed when I got to high school, when playing the guitar in a band, hanging out with my friends and meeting girls were more interesting. Bike riding was not a thing my friends did.

I was fortunate to meet my lifelong love, Barbara, while in college. We soon married, moved to NJ and raised three children. We now have 3 grandchildren.

While my degree is in both physics and mathematics, with an MBA in finance, I climbed the corporate ladder in reinsurance. After retiring in 2019, just in time for COVID, I reignited two of my passions: astrophysics and cycling.

By taking several astrophysics courses at Rutgers, I remain amazed by how much we have learned and are still learning about the Universe as compared to my undergraduate days.

My dear friend from my high school days, Bart Tesoriero, R. I. P., encouraged me to buy a road bike, redevelop my riding skills, and eventually join the PFW in 2022.

The classes and Professors at Rutgers and the friends I have made at the PFW, have eased the transition from a hectic corporate position to a focus on my passions. I have made so many friends, too many to single out here, that have made cycling so much fun. Yes, my wife and my doctors are thrilled with the transition from a high stress, heavy travel lifestyle to an era of more exercise and the enjoyment of cycling.

My biggest cycling enjoyment and accomplishment was joining my wife and six members (Mike, Dave, Christine, Doug, Heddy and Laura) on a week long trip to Hotel Dory in Riccione, tackling the hills of Italy. I can’t overstate the fun, challenge, and camaraderie we shared. The Dory team deserves my highest recognition. However, most importantly, one really gets to know their fellow riders via the time spent riding, at mealtimes and having a few drinks.






My goal is to continue to enjoy cycling, make new friends, increase my endurance to do longer rides and become better at climbing.