Retired US Marine Corps, Volunteer Culinary Arts Professor – Bergen Community College

Dion Cucuta was born and raised in Harlem, NYC during the Heroin uprise & epidemic. He escaped the uprising and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1977, and served until 1983. Once graduated from boot camp, he received orders to report to Camp Lejeune to Culinary School and became a cook. Dion’s ability to work with others, develop bonds and leadership was noticed by many Senior Marines, and he immediately received meritorious promotions and climbed the Rank to Sgt in only 3 years of active service. He attended Drill Instructor School, received 2 Honorable discharges, several citations, and service connected injury.

Upon being discharged, he began exploring the culinary world. The opportunity to train under Chef David Burke was experience in and of itself, and learning the actual meaning of Cuisine and Fine Dining accelerated his way of thinking outside the box.

Since 1985, Chef/Coach Dion has been working with underprivileged youth, Gangs, and athletes, and leads the charge with answers and hope for so many young people. He went on to create the Brothers and Sisters Coming Together (BSCT) program in the Harlem community. Helping people of all kinds has been a core value in his veins.

In 2004, Dion met his current wife Stephanie and they married after three years. By realizing they had the same passion in working with youth in underprivileged communities, they became a support mechanism for many in need. The pair share common goals, as well as eight children, 10 grandchildren, and 3 great grandchildren.

In 2010, Dion Cucuta began volunteering as an Englewood Junior Raider football coach, a role which he would fill for 7 years. His team won League Championships for five of those years, and for the first time ever the Junior Raiders swept the entire league all 3 teams winning the Championship.

In 2009, Dion created the Culinary Cadets afterschool program at JDMS, which ran successfully for five years. He inspired hopeful 7th and 8th grade Chefs and gave them the opportunity to learn culinary skills. These special young people provided 600 suppers for those participating in extracurricular activities, such as members of the football, basketball, and baseball teams, as well as those in after-hours tutoring.

In 2010, Dion Cucuta, along with his wife Stephanie Taylor-Cucuta, founded their organization, “Disabled Combat Veterans Youth Programs”, which was incorporated by the State Of New Jersey in 2013.

From 2014-2020 Chef/Coach Dion served as a Volunteer Culinary Arts professor at Bergen Community College in Paramus, NJ, where he trained students in quantity production, A la Carte, butchering, and the Art of plating. He worked one on one with students to demonstrate the proper cooking techniques, and developed a structured classroom environment to empower his students.

Together Dion & Stephanie mentored many young males & females through their Man-Up & No Boys Allowed mentoring programs for the Bergen County Community. They continuously empower young people by providing them with tools needed to become great citizens, such as critical thinking and planning with an emphasis on education. They also advised them on making immediate adjustments and spiritual guidance.

In March 2020, when the pandemic took over the entire world, Chef Dion went ahead full throttle with a weekly food distribution program. He spoke to the Table To Table food rescue organization, many worship houses, and several local nonprofits to create the Table To Table Tuesdays food distribution. The program is currently servicing 3,000 families weekly and supporting the 3rd & 4th regions in Bergen County.

He also emphasizes and facilitates voter registration, census reporting, COVID19 testing and vaccination, Simplicity healthcare, flu vaccines, and community outreach.