The road ahead was not clearly paved for Carmine Passarella. Instead, C.J., as he's known to family and friends, forged his own path through determination, diligence and dedication.
Noting that she separated from her husband when C.J. was 9, his mom, Judy Passarella, said, "I've heard him say that he's never going to struggle like I did." To prove it, she said, "he's got the brains and the smarts and the drive and the will power."
Observing how hard his mother worked to support four kids on her sole income, Passarella described himself as "naturally driven," said, "it just gave me more reason to try hard In school and get involved in the community, so I could be successful when I'm older."
