Hartford Multinational Lions Club Angels Ball Gala Recognizes Elba Cruz Schulman

HARTFORD, CT - On Saturday May 6, 2023 Hartford

Multinational Lions Club Angels Ball celebrated its Gala in honor of Elba Cruz Schulman, club founder who passed away during the COVID-19 pandemic. The event also recognized Héctor Manuel and Sarah Rosa Cardona as Parents of the Years, Mega Education as Agency of the Year, and students Gabriela Castellón Guevara, and Dae’Ja Josey as scholarship recipients.

Elba Cruz Schulman, lifelong advocate for those in need and the underprivileged, was born and raised in Arecibo, Puerto Rico, daughter of the late José and Basilisa (Martínez) González. Her 3 sisters are Lydia O’Sullivan Gillooly, Daisy González, and Milca Fortier. Elba and her family moved to New York City when she was eleven years old.

She was educated in the New York public school system, attended the University of Massachusetts -Amherst, and graduated from New Hampshire College with a Bachelor of Arts in Human Services. Elba also attended the University of Connecticut School of Social Work with credits toward a Master of Social Work.

Elba led a full life of service to the community that included employment as a drug counselor, family and youth Counselor and Therapist, Coordinator for Northern Connecticut Cuban Refugee Entrants Program, Community Educator and, as a Medical Social Worker for the City of Hartford, She coordinated the Hartford Mayors Passport to Success Program, as well as the Annual Festival of Lights program in Hartford where approximately a 1,000 children received Christmas and holiday toys.

1961 as a 7 years old, and she was 13 when arriving with her mother in 1969. Héctor attended both public and parochial schools in Meriden, ultimately graduating from Maloney High School. Sarah’s formal education ended abruptly at the tender age of 13, when her loving mother was diagnosed with cancer; and Sarah became the primary caretaker for the family.

Both families knew each other from their hometown in Puerto Rico, yet Sarah and Héctor had not met each other. Héctor and Sarah got married in 1972 when he was 18, and Sarah was 16. Five years later, the Cardonas were the proud parents of 3 children: Héctor, Jr., Miguel Angel, and Marisol.

Hector joined the Meriden Police force in 1983 and served with distinction for 31 years. He retired in 2013. He worked for the Neighborhood Foot Patrol during the infancy of community policing in gang-riddled neighborhoods, His peers nominated him for State of Connecticut Outstanding Police Officer.

As soon as all children were full-time elementary students, Sarah joined the local workforce in several businesses until retirement as a Quality Control Lab Technician in 2018.

Service to their community has been a hallmark of the Cardona family. They created and directed the St. Rose church choir, and developed a youth choir, developing Spanish worship music and choirs throughout CT. Some of their volunteer work include Service on Human Rights Advisory Board, Co-Founders of Meriden Hispanic Foundation, and chairing the Puerto Rican Festival Committee

Héctor was honored with both the Meriden and the CT Jaycees Public Service Award. He is a Meriden Hall of Fame inductee, a Meriden Chamber of Commerce Shining Star Award recipie, a Notary Public, and a Justice of the Peace.

The Cardona Family Band, currently in its 3rd generation, is wellknown for their performances at nursing and convalescent homes statewide, and for benefit functions across the state. Héctor was also a DJ for the far-reaching popular Saturday morning radio program “La Puertorriqueñísima.”

Ask the Cardonas what their greatest achievement, joy and pride is, and it is not the public awards and accolades, it is their children: Héctor Cardona, Jr, a 27-year veteran, and currently a Lieutenant in the Meriden Police Department; Dr. Miguel Angel Cardona, a lifelong educator currently serving as the 12th United States Secretary of Education under President Biden, in Washington, D.C.; and Marisol Cardona Chang, a Licensed Social Worker serving students in Palmetto County, Florida.

Scholarship Recipient--Dae’Ja Josey continued on page 8

Dae’Ja is a senior at the University High School of Science and Engineering with a GPA of 3.2. She will study Journalism at Quinnipiac University. Over the past 5 years, she has performed community service with children ages 3-10. “I do not student teach because I need service hours but because I love doing it,” she says.