PARA’s call for members to submit recollections of their Port Authority years prompted many retirees and several surviving relatives to submit wonderful, heartfelt stories. A handful will be excerpted elsewhere in the PANYNJ Centennial issue. This is a special section of the PARA website and will include the full text of all the submittals (received by April 12, 2021) Click each name to see each story:
I started working for Port Authority in March 1965. One of the best decisions that I have ever made. At this time, I met my friends Doris Wells, Maxine Hill, Synetta Anderson, and many others. We all shared a wonderful professional work relationship and friendship. Our friendship has grown stronger over the years.
It has been a real pleasure and honor working for Port Authority. I started as a Toll Collector and held various positions. I retired as a Bus Terminal Information Customer Service employee.
I left the Company with many wonderful memories that I will cherish for the rest of my life. Thanks for providing a beautiful and professional place of employment. I will always be thankful.
(Written by his widow, Deborah Andreas, he passed away January 9, 2021 of pneumonia).
Kurt was a PA Police Officer. He was employed from 1972 to 1996. Kurt loved his job. He loved his co-workers. He was a people person. Kurt had many daily experiences.
Once, he was working at an airport and a family was traveling to South America. One family member was in a wheelchair, with sunglasses and lots of blankets. Kurt inquired if everything was OK. They replied that they were taking their ill father home. Kurt spoke to the man in the wheelchair. No response – he realized that the person was deceased. The family explained that they couldn’t afford to ship him in a casket.
Kurt loved his job and was so sad when he retired. He had many great experiences. He loved helping people. Whenever he was praised or acknowledged, his reply was, “I’m only doing my job.”
I was fortunate to be accepted into the Automotive Apprentice Program immediately after my high school graduation in July 1965. It was a great opportunity for an 18-year-old who was not sure what he wanted. Unfortunately, Viet Nam was escalating, I was classified 1A and therefore was not able to complete the entire program before receiving my draft notice. It turned out to be the last class and end of a very beneficial program. When I returned from the Air Force, I was able to work as a mechanic’s helper and with the tutoring of some excellent senior mechanics pass the automotive mechanics exam.
While working nights as an auto mechanic at the Holland Tunnel, I attended college at New Jersey Institute of Technology (formally Newark College of Engineering) under the GI Bill. Just before receiving my degree, I was promoted to Automotive Engineer. Several years later I was promoted to Engineering Supervisor and eventually to Manager of the Automotive Division.
I have many great memories of numerous events and fellow workers. Also, a couple of events that were not so great, such as the 1993 bombing attack and the mandated RIF programs. In 1996 I took early retirement, joined another company and relocated to North Carolina. However, my heart and thoughts always remained and still remain with the Port Authority and my fellow employees. This was especially true on September 11, 2001, not knowing who made it out.
I truly enjoyed my many years and great career at the Port. I was extremely blessed to have worked with dedicated technicians, tradespeople, professionals, supervisors, and directors. Many thanks to all. My special gratitude to those that mentored, tutored, supported and guided me, especially, Ray Busico, Jim Maresca, Bob Walsh, Al Robertson, Pat Mourges, Ken Philmus, Lou Lacapra, Jack Gannon, Tom Lubas, Bob Williams, and Gene Gill. Thanks for the opportunity.
Most Thrilling Moments - During construction of Newark Airport Redevelopment Program, as an engineer supervising the construction, walking higher up on the steel beams and on the roof of large umbrellas was very exciting, which most of the American Indian Community perform fearlessly, and being from the Indian American community was a matter enjoyed by many colleagues and contractors.
During the July 4, 1976 Bicentennial Celebration, watching the Tall Ships parade up the Hudson River from the 73rd Floor with my family was really a spectacle which I fondly remember, culminating with a memorable dinner at the Windows on the World Restaurant on the 108th Floor.
As a project administrator in the World Trade Department, escorting many foreign dignitaries and visitors to the Observation Deck on the roof of 2 WTC often was thrilling. Once I got the opportunity to ride in a window-washing trolley on the outside of one of the towers -- a time of fear and thrills I never would have felt anywhere else, but during my tenure at the Port Authority.
Most Horrific Moments – During the February 26, 1993 bombing in the basement parking area on February 26, 1993, around 12:25 PM, I had just come out of the elevator into the lobby area of One WTC. I heard the thundering boom, which a colleague with me initially was thought to be the bursting of a transformer on the lower (6th floor) basement level. I saw people, some with bloody noses, running to get out the building surrounded with smoke and dust. I tried to help people of the doors on the West Side Highway. Firefighters came on the scene in a matter of minutes and asked us to evacuate the area.
Out on the west side with the stranded and shocked crowd, I observed debris falling from above. People still inside were breaking windows, having heard on the radio that they should let the authorities know that they were still trapped in the building. Panic spread in the crowd that the building might come down any moment. Everyone, including me, ran away to the west side of the highway. We waited there for some time with no specific information. Finally, I decided to take the subway to Penn Station to get home, though normally I rode to work in a carpool every day. While waiting for the train, I decided to call home from a pay phone, to tell my wife who might have seen the news on the TV, that I was safe and on my way home via train, and when she could pick me up at the train station in New Brunswick. To my surprise, she mentioned that I didn’t have to call to relieve her fear, because she had seen me running on TV -- a person with grey hair, wearing a blue blazer, while crossing the West Side Highway. She thought if I could run, I must be safe. During those days I used to run the NYC Marathon, which I ran every year, starting in 1985.
I spend 28 years at the Port Authority, and they were the hallmark of my life. I enjoyed every moment with my colleagues, some of whom became friends for life. I remember my time there as the happiest of my life.
Ann Biehler (Widow of Patrolman Lawrence Biehler III)
A Plane on the Upper Deck of the GWB……really?
Yes-- it’s true. On December 26, 1965, a small plane did an emergency landing on the upper deck of the George Washington Bridge. The young pilot and his passenger were not seriously injured nor was anyone on the bridge.
My husband, Patrolman Lawrence Biehler III, was working in the garage at the GWB at the time. This incident even made Life Magazine. I will always remember it and am now 87 years old.
The Model That Wouldn’t Fit - One of my fondest memories of my 37 years goes back to my time spent in the Chief Architect’s Office dating from the last days of A. Gordon Lorimer just before his retirement up to Roger Carroll’s tenure as Chief before his untimely passing.
A particular moment during the mid-1970’s -- our office was actively engaged in the Bus Terminal Expansion Project. We spent many months on the design development of the exterior as well as the interior spaces. As we prepared for the Annual Board of Commissioners meeting, staff was involved in creating all the elements necessary to illustrate what would be required to rehabilitate this massive structure. The key components were the development of two large scale models, one 1/8 scale model would depict all levels of the exterior rehabilitation and addition from 8th Avenue to 9th Avenue, and from 40th to 42nd Streets. The key element was the magnificent corten steel façade that would unite the old with the new. It was an imposing structure that was beautifully illustrated in model form.
The second model was unlike anything that I can ever recall being produced by any previous Port Authority staff. A ¼ scale model of the Main Concourse interior, again spanning from 8th to 9th Avenues and encompassing the areas from 40th to 42nd Streets. If memory serves me correct, it was well over 12 feet in length, and over 6 feet in width. As we feverishly worked to gear up for the Board meeting, staff put in unbelievable hours designing and building spaces simultaneously.
Finally, the day arrived, “Board Day”. As we proceeded to gather the presentation design props, moving the models was the last step as we made our way to the 67th floor. The exterior model went first, no problem. Now came the massive interior model, wheeled on three carts to the elevator lobby, PANIC set in as we quickly realized that no matter how we tried to manipulate the model we couldn’t get it in the elevator without causing unnecessary damage. After months of design and planning, how could we neglect to plan for this final step?
Two options came into play, the freight elevator ran infrequently, and we had little time to spare. Option two, the biggest decision of the week, carefully cut the model in half from north to south between 40th and 42nd Streets. As the old adage goes, “measure twice, cut once”. SUCCESS! In two trips we made it, set the room up with accent lighting, easels, and renderings with the models as the focal point.
It was a proud moment, and extremely gratifying as we all learned that the project was approved in its entirely. It is hard for me to believe that almost 50 years have passed, and now the Port Authority is looking to create another state-of-the-art Bus Terminal Redevelopment Project. My only wish is that if a model is used for illustration purposes, I hope it will make it into an elevator in one piece.
That it was my destiny to spend most of my working career at The Port Authority of NY & NJ was both unexpected and remarkable. I previously received shoeboxes of thank you letters from companies I interviewed with that included no job offers. So, I was encouraged in 1978 to receive a letter from the Port Authority offering me a Temporary Accountant position. Even though it was just temporary I accepted.
I began working with the late Carmine Giandalia and Bob Ruane at the WTC in the Payroll Group. This started many years of meeting, working with and admiring the many talented Port Authority staff I encountered. It included working at four P.A. facilities (WTC, PATC. JSTC & 2MONT) and visiting nearly every other. To be Sure, things were not always easy. That I survived the World Trade Center bombing on the afternoon of February 26, 1993 was fortunate. It was so unexpected and forever changed the WTC & the Port Authority. It was then God’s will, fate or both for me to survive the plane attack and exit the WTC to an empty West Street at 10:15AM on the morning of September 11, 2001.
Although those were difficult days, the good always far outweighed the bad for me at the WTC and the Port Authority. To think that I played a small role in the Port Authority’s successful operations, security, construction, and management spanning two centuries is heartwarming. That I contributed important accounting, managing and decision-making to the Port Authority’s unique and wonderful history is prideful for me.
In 1978, I never expected to encounter some of what I did working for the Port Authority. But I am honored & happy to say that I was glad the Port Authority chose me to work for the agency for nearly 43 of the last 100 years. May many others receive the same wonderful opportunity as I in the next hundred years to spend a career working for as great an agency as the Port Authority. Congratulations on your centennial, The Port Authority of NY & NJ.
Over a 37-year career at the Port Authority the one memory that is a constant are the numerous individuals that I got to know over those years. At that time it was like a family and hence the phrase “Mother PONYA.” I went to a number of weddings, kids’ birthdays and get-togethers.
Even today some of these relationships have continue into retirement. The Port Authority afforded you the opportunity to work on projects that you may never had the a chance in the private sector. I was fortunate to work on a variety of projects ranging from the revitalization of the Port Authority Bus Terminal in the mid-Nineties, the sale of the World Trade Center, JetBlue Terminal 5 and Port Newark Container Terminal the largest private investment deal at Port Newark to name a few. Where else could you get these opportunities?
My name is Alice Bowens. I began my journey with The Port Authority of NY & NJ in December, 1992 as a Port Authority Temporary employee.
During my tenure I worked as a Temp in Human Resources, the Law Department, the Interstate Department, and other departments as assigned, before finally obtaining a permanent position in the Tunnels, Bridges and Terminals Department (TB&T). I worked in the Advertising and Marketing Division, as well as the Customer Service Division while with TB&T.
I retired from TB&T in 2005 after 13 years with The Port Authority. My co-workers firmly believed that when people worked eight hours a day together they need to get along, and we did our best to.
It was my honor to see a childhood wish of retiring with a pension come to pass through the Port Authority, and I will always remember PA fondly.
Loretta (Pisano) Brath, Margaret (Pallotta) Larsen, Joyce (Nilsen) Martinsen
“Mother PONYA” Memories - We are three retirees who would like to reflect on the fond memories that we have working for the Port Authority and the many friends we made through the years. Here are a few of those memories to share in celebration of the agency’s 100th anniversary.
On November 23, 1970, as members of the WTC Operations team under the direction of Manager Richard F. Ehmann, we became the first PA employees to occupy space in Suite 1067 of One World Trade Center a.k.a. “Tower A.” In those early days we all came in to work via a covered “sheep run” which was the only means of ingress/egress and which eventually became the WTC Concourse. There was only one elevator, a construction elevator, for everyone working at the site to use which was operated by “Gene.” There was no such thing as an elevator button so we either had to shout out his name or give a very hard-handed rap on the elevator door for service.
The entire site was still under construction and had not yet been taken over by WTC Operations. However, for those of us in the “office” there were issues that had to be addressed ASAP. The first and most important was safety. Our wonderful manager Dick Ehmann set up a “buddy system” for us eight women since ANYWHERE we went, inside or outside the building, we could never travel alone. A WTC Police Command was also established, led by Captain John Simons and his team of Police Officers, ensuring any and all public safety concerns were addressed. The next issue was temperature control. It was very cold in the office and for that matter the entire building, so we had to wear our coats almost always. The topping out of the roof did not happen until December 23, 1970, so heat was a big issue. Some examples of temporary measures that were employed were big portable gas heaters in the restrooms and anti-freeze in the toilets and everyone had an electric heater near or under their desks.
The big day and official opening was on December 15, 1970 when the very first companies moved into One WTC. A very exciting time! Communication with these brave new tenants was of paramount importance and a high priority for the WTC Operations team and we initiated creative ways to keep in contact with them on a daily basis. We would hand-deliver, in person, pertinent information via bulletins to apprise them of any and all updates regarding the building. We welcomed them with excellent customer service and established a terrific working relationship with all of them. To this day we reminisce over those “pioneer times” at WTC as the most memorable of our PA careers.
As we celebrate this 100-year milestone anniversary we feel honored to have worked for a company that became our family. Even now after retirement we are still in touch with many of our co-worker friends and we will ALWAYS remember the loss of our PA friends who were injured or perished on February 26, 1993 and September 11, 2001 and we will always cherish the wonderful memories we had working for Mother “PONYA.”
One of the fondest memories I have of working for the Port Authority (PA) is bringing my daughter to work with me. She always had fun and loved being in my office. She loved my coworkers and playing with their children. They loved her. During my career, I worked in the Office of International Business - World Trade Institute, Comptrollers Department and Tunnels, Bridges and Terminals. I appreciated that the PA was family-oriented. That’s what made it a unique place to work for. There were so many activities and events for family participation.
Whether it was at a PA facility or off site, you were guaranteed to be entertained. The World Trade Center building was a beautiful site to see. I brought my daughter to work with me since she was a baby. She’ll be 29 years old in June. In my daughter’s eyes, it was the world’s largest playground. The wide lobby, high ceilings, stores, windows, and concourse were mesmerizing. She was afraid to ride the large elevators that went from the first floor to the 44th floor, (Sky Lobby) but at the same time, she loved the elevators because they traveled so fast it made her giggle. She loved attending concerts outside on the Plaza. She participated in PA events such as the PA Annual Employees Art Show (she won honorable mention in the 25th Show for children age 5-8). enjoyed helping me volunteer at the PA Customer Appreciation Day, September 14, 2000, held at the George Washington Bridge Bus Station.
Every year she came to my office for Take Your She Daughter To Work Day. In 2001, we took all of the girls to Windows on The World on the 107th floor. She still has the magnets of every PA facility on her refrigerator door. Another great time had was at Family Day, at the Lincoln Tunnel. There was food and lots of activities. There were Christmas parties on the concourse level with face painting, gifts, balloons, Santa Claus, candy, music, etc.
I dressed up one year as an Easter bunny when she was 4 years old. My daughter was terrified of this enormous bunny. She didn’t know it was me in the costume. A coworker picked her up and convinced her to come closer to me. She recognized my voice and started to cry, saying “the bunny ate my mommy!” The coworkers met me in the bathroom so I could remove the head of the costume and show her that I was OK. We went back out to the floor where I could entertain the other children and have them take pictures with me, but she wouldn’t let anyone sit on my lap without her. I think she’s in all of the pictures with the other kids.
I’m proud of my daughter. The irony is that my daughter now works in 3 WTC and is employed by one of the world’s largest media advertising agencies as a Manager for Digital Investments.
My name is Charlotte R. Cason and I have previously worked for The Port Authority of NY & NJ for 23 years. I have been retired for some time now, but I began my employment in April. 1964.
From the time I began my employment to the time I retired, I am happy to say that as an employee, it was an enjoyable 23 years. I speak for myself, as I am sure that others will agree, I was professionally treated by everyone-- by all staff members from administrative staff, supervisors, and all the way up to the corporate staff. The care they showed, not only to the employees but to all patrons utilizing the George Washington Bridge which was where I was located (as well as, I'm certain, other locations) was very obvious.
There were fresh flowers outside the booths, a huge American Flag was draped on the center of the bridge, just to name a few examples of dedication and patriotism. I thoroughly enjoyed my supervisors and, in fact, I still remain in contact with some of them. While working in a service job, one can expect difficulty from them at times, but I am proud to say that my experience with The Port of Authority of NY & NJ has been a very pleasant one and I continue to be proud to say that I was an employee for 23 years.
Memories From a Working Girl
Yes, I said girl because that is who I was when I joined the Port Authority of New York (pre bi-state distinction) shortly after graduating high school. I landed a great job at the PA, while attending college at night. I went on to graduate school and acquired licenses and certifications over the years that the PA paid for, while continuing my full time career.
My fondest memories are many, as vast as the organization itself. As I truly grew up there.
Most significantly was the nurturing environment I was surrounded by, so many great people not threatened to share their knowledge which helped me navigate through what could have been a very intimidating experience. To quote a former manager, when I informed him that I didn’t know enough about my prospective opportunity, his response was, “you’ll learn just like everyone else”. Little did he know how profound that statement was to me, as I took it with me to each new position I held from that day forward. I also made sure I learned as much as I could as not to disappoint. But that is what distinguished the PA from other private organizations, so many resources and learning opportunities were there just for the asking.
My career with the PA spanned four decades, working in numerous departments both Operational and Capital.
I can’t say that it was always smooth sailing, over the years there were ups and downs but the good times far outweighed the bad, and the relationships I formed there will never be forgotten. I guess getting back to that old adage of Mother PONYA really applies, as there was always a security and family bond. I can also say I witnessed greatness, empathy, support, and what I believed at certain times were insurmountable challenges, yet we managed to get through them by stepping up and coming to each others aid under the most difficult of times.
We also celebrated our accomplishments and had the best holiday parties! I worked through two recessions, stock market crashes, and two terroristic attacks. But I must applaud the PA for having gotten us through these experiences without ever skipping a beat, that is never missing a paycheck coupled by their empathic response to their employees. Their call to action during those devastating times was significant; egos were left at the door and all who wanted to, rolled up their sleeves and worked countless hours side by side to return the organization to normalcy.
My experiences ran the gamut of young and foolish to experienced and confident and I feel so lucky to have been able to grow and evolve my career at the PA.
One of my recent cherished memories before retiring, was one early evening when I was working later than usual I happened to take a break to the rest room which was clear on the other side of the floor. As I made my way around I noticed a few of the engineers here and there in deep discussion or hovered over scale drawings in heated debate. What impressed me most was in all cases there were older senior engineers captivating the newer younger hires with their wisdom and direction that really got to me and reminded me of what the PA is all about...
So, it’s with a smiling heart I can say I loved working at the PA..
Rags to Riches - In the mid ‘50s, I was working as an adjuster for the Home Insurance Company in downtown Manhattan, when I was drafted into the Army. Upon returning from Germany after two years, I went back to the Home and was promoted to Claims Examiner. However, within nine months, I knew this wasn’t the career I wanted.
I put in an application for the Port Authority and was hired as a “temp” in Maintenance at N.Y. International Airport, commonly referred to as Idlewild and today known as JFK. I was assigned to the Gardening Department and given a green uniform. For the next six months, I dug more holes planting pine trees along the Van Wyck entranceway than foxholes in my years of Army service! I was made a “permanent” and given a “Cadillac” (a garbage pail on wheels with a broom and shovel). I was assigned to keep the floors clean in the old Temporary Terminal Building, which was used by almost all the domestic airlines at the time. In those years, you started at the bottom.
“Good Lord…What was I thinking when I left the insurance company?”
I remember putting on a fake mustache and an Elmer Fudd hat pulled down over my ears so that no one I knew would recognize me. Finally, I got a promotion into the Operations Unit as a Sound Monitor. It seemed that whenever the P.M.S. (Permanent Monitoring System) went down and I had to go mobile in an airport van to a remote site, it was always to Howard Beach (John Gotti territory) on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon! We were pelted with cans and bottles and cursed at: “You’re ruining our lives! We can’t watch soccer or ballgames on TV or have barbecues. Change that runway or else!”
Again, what was I thinking?
Well, the years went on and my career evolved. Many promotions and different jobs, until I finally left JFK in 1970 for LGA. I spent the next 25 years in Operations and the last eight years as Operations’ Chief. During this time, I was fortunately able to meet presidents, movie stars, sports celebrities and a POPE! What a career!
But I saved the best for last.
My future wife was returning home from a vacation in Hilton Head, S.C. and was having a drink in one of the airport lounges, waiting for her family to pick her up. Well, she got picked up…by ME! We were married three months later!
So, thank you LGA, for everything. And thank you “Mother PONYA” for a great and rewarding 37-year career, a terrific retirement and an incredible medical plan.
Best decision I ever made.
Former Chief of Operations (1987-1995) LaGuardia (1970-95)
I was Manager of Acquisition and Property Management in the Real Estate Department of the Port Authority from 1966-1972, responsible for acquisition of the real estate for the WTC (and the Journal Square Transportation Center, the expansion ground for the Bus Terminal, the Goethals Bridge and Port Elizabeth) as well as tenant relocation, property management, and property engineering.
I wrote the attached article for the Summer, 2002 issue of the journal of The Counselors of Real Estate, which is reprinted from Real Estate Issues with the permission of The Counselors of Real Estate of the National Association of Realtors. (Click the name below)
I started at the PA in August, 1970 after working a year-and-a-half at Grumman on he APOLLO project. I was hired, along with two other Grumman employees – Joe Jackson and Ken Karwan.
I remember working in the Engineering Department at 111 Eighth Avenue on the 11th Floor. I worked mainly on JFK and LGA projects, but the rewarding part was the people and characters I worked with. The bosses were Jim Irwin, Bill McCann, and Harry Ryan, who knew how to have fun and produce work a the same time (a hard thing to do). My group included a bunch of characters – Joe Bart, Dan Monaco and the infamous Charlie Johannis! A great bunch of guys.
The building itself was weird:
We moved to the WTC and I worked in Planning for the rest of my career. We accomplished a lot during that time, making the WTC a tourist destination. We powered the stage on the Plaza, the ice rink on the Plaza (not a good idea), and the chiller plants on Liberty and Vesey street after the 1993 bombing. We did numerous projects to keep our tenants happy.
The PA had various after-work activities like picnics, the bowling league, and softball league. This was a great idea, bringing employees together in a non-work-related environment (not to mention championships).
All I all, the PA was good to me and I enjoyed being a little part of its success through to my retirement in December, 2000.
Director of Public Safety & Superintendent of Police (retired) (1967-1990) - I was in the PAPD Police academy in August 1967 when we were deployed to the city of Newark, N.J. to supplement the Newark Police, N.J. State Police, and the N.J. National Guard to help quell the riots that were taking place in Newark at the time. It was an interesting initiation into policing in my rookie year.
After several times being passed over for Sergeant, I filed a class action suit and was successful in getting the PA to hire the first female police officers, and increase the numbers of Latino, Asian, and other minority officers and revise the promotional system to eliminate implicit bias.
As a Sergeant assigned to headquarters I was able to obtain a block grant from LEAA to fund the Police Youth Services Unit at the PABT as a unique program in policing in the U.S. Subsequently, LEAA designated it as a “Model Program” and funded it for two more years.
As the Operations Captain at JFKIA, I was responsible for the investigation for the PAPD of the Lufthansa robbery, making it the largest cash robbery committed on American soil at the time. As Deputy Superintendent of Police I was asked by the Metropolitan Police in London to assist them in analyzing the causes and solutions to the riots in Brixton in April, 1981. The leadership of the Metropolitan Police had read several papers I had written on the subject.
In 1982, I established our first K9 patrols on the PATH system, modeled after the K9 unit in the SEPTA system in Philadelphia. Pa.
I was appointed as Superintendent of Police in 1983, becoming the first Black American and the youngest person to have achieved that position. To date, I am also last person to have risen through the ranks of the PAPD to become the Superintendent of Police.
As Superintendent of Police, 1984 I created the Special Olympic Law Enforcement Torch Run in New Jersey, which has become the most successful Law Enforcement torch run on the globe and is the leader in fundraising for Special Olympics worldwide. The Lincoln Tunnel Fun Run is also a successful offshoot of this program.
As part of a health and wellness program for officers, we created a team of officers to compete in the New York State Police Olympics. I am proud to say we set the standard in many events wining many gold medals. I always enjoyed running in the 200- and 400-meter events against some of the younger officers. We also fielded a team of athletes in the “Corporate Challenge” and won the event in New Jersey, which got us a trip to the national finals on Paradise Island in the Bahamas. Great fun!
In 1986, I established the Port Authority Police Command College in collaboration with John Jay College and the West Point Military Academy. Although It was discontinued because of fiscal issues it remains as a pioneering effort in the development of police leadership education in the U.S.
In 1986, we developed in partnership with the Manhattan District Attorney’s office, the first New York City Video Teleconferencing System, for arraignment of arrested criminal suspects.
In 1988, developed a partnership with INTERPOL to facilitate a system of regular exchange of information concerning terrorism and criminal trends associated with airport operations. The organization is the Airport Law Enforcement Agencies Network (ALEAN)
I could not ever imagine a more wonderful experience in my life then the time I spent in the PAPD. As the saying goes, “If you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life” and I truly loved my time in the PAPD.
Recently the Port Authority celebrated its 100th anniversary. I looked back and realized that between my dad (Fred Fevola) and I, we had 70 years of PA service. My dad served for 34 years, retiring in 1972, and I had a 36-year career, retiring in 1995.
During that time, the PA offered many opportunities which I managed to take advantage of. Some of those opportunities included college tuition reimbursement, advancement, and complete career changes. I met people from many departments and have had the pleasure of long-lasting friendships formed over the years, some have lasted over 55 years.
In 2007, while having lunch with Stan Raith and Rita DuBrow, Stan suggested forming a luncheon for retirees in the south/central New Jersey area. The first luncheon was held in September 2007 with 32 retirees. News spread about the luncheon group by word of mouth and became an overnight success. Held quarterly, we average about 80 retirees per quarter. One luncheon drew 117 attendees in July 2012.
Mother PONYA was unique in that retirees did not abandon their PA roots and continued to maintain contact with those they worked with over the years. That is evident in the number of luncheons (pre-pandemic) that are available to retirees, both locally and in Florida.
My name is Matthew DeSanto and I am a retired PA employee.
In 2001, I was a Lincoln Tunnel Tour Manager. In the days and weeks following September 11, many people stopped by to give support and supplies to us.
Because they were unable to get to Ground Zero, they stopped at the first Port Authority facility they found to give us gloves, rain gear, tools, snacks, bottled water and anything else that they thought that we needed.
A Pepsi Cola tractor trailer came from North Carolina loaded with two-liter bottles of drinking water. Unfortunately, the bottles were unlabeled and due to the paranoia at the time, I felt bad but had to tell the driver that people would not drink anything that was unlabeled.
In any event Poland Spring Water gave us hundreds of cases of bottled water a few days later. It really felt good to know how many people came to help during the Port Authority's darkest hours.
There are many, many memories I have after 33 years of service.
But I will begin by remembering the most recent, approximately a month after the 9/11 attacks. The Port Authority had a Remembrance Reunion, including past and present employees. It was held at Madison Square Garden, there were entertainment, speakers, and acknowledgement of employee’s lost in the disaster and a beautiful spread of fresh fruits and colorful food, held in a separate room for everyone.
Our newly hired Executive Director of the Port Authority of NY and NJ, Neil Levin, had perished in the disaster. He had recently been married to Christy Ferer.
Mrs. Christy Ferer, one of the lead speakers at the Garden, only married to Mr. Levin a short time, spoke to us with an uplifting message and even made a reference to “Mother PONYA,” as if she worked for the PA or knew the history of the Port Authority or somehow related to us. She made an excellent impression and she shared our grief.
Whoever came up with that Remembrance Program, deserved an award. For employees past and present to see and greet each other and embrace one another was so reassuring and heartwarming. Seeing old faces was a welcoming feeling after the disaster.
Thank you for that experience, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Thank you.
Another memorable experience was two weeks after 9/11; I woke up in my bedroom. Everything was rattling and shaking in my room, the furniture, the windows, my TV. I was definitely traumatized after the disaster. Nothing felt secure or stable anymore. But, I no doubt was grateful for having survived it, though I wondered why I was so fortunate. We had lost three people in our department; why were they so unlucky? It didn’t really matter now, what was done was done. What would PA do now? What would I do now?
I then walked onto the screened-in porch, looked upward with a thankful heart and stretched my arms out wide, thanking “Him” for the day and survival. When I suddenly felt something under my foot, it was a FedEx Package. I opened it and found a white envelope inside. I opened the envelope and pulled out a check. It was a PA check. My eyes just started tearing up, I felt that in spite of the terrible disaster I encountered on 9/11, I was still being taken care of, and my biweekly check had come timely. That feeling is one I will never forget. I felt loved and appreciated, a sense of security; I could pay my mortgage, and other utilities.
The Port Authority was a grand agency to work for. Thank You God. Thank you Mom and Dad, and thank you Port Authority. (PANYNJ)
As the Port Authority turns 100 years old, we want to express our gratitude for the honor and privilege to have been staff members of this great agency.
Having worked on constructing some of the region’s most important and essential transportation projects provided us the opportunity to participate in the engineering excellence for which the Port Authority is well-known.
It is our hope that the Port Authority continues to be the premiere agency in designing, constructing, maintaining, and operating the region’s transportation facilities.
With pride, we congratulate the Port Authority on this milestone occasion!!!
John DiMilia (retired December 2002)
Bill Foley (retired September 2010)
I remember my first day at the Port Authority. I was 17 years old. I had been offered a job that would be starting right away. Like any teenager, I took the job but with the agreement that I would work for the Port Authority one week as a temporary employee and then take my planned vacation, after which I would be back on the payroll. (What do you expect from a teenager!)
Little did I know that I would have a wonderful and successful 40-year career at the PA. A career that started with one of the lowest positions in the agency to one of the highest level -- Corporate Secretary of the Port Authority.
I had the privilege to work with chairmen, vice chairmen, executive directors, directors and so on — and I loved my job and “my” Port Authority. But more than that, I loved my Port Authority friends, and I still do.
I retired from the Port Authority in mid-2018, 40 years from the same week I started at the Port Authority. I joined PARA when I retired. Since then, I have gotten to rekindle friendships even more with my Port Authority and PARA friends.
My family really didn’t and still doesn’t understand why I spent so much time at the Port Authority and now with PARA, but I tell them that the Port Authority and PARA are my family so I do what I have to do for them.
(Absent the pandemic, we would all be together at this time and I am looking forward to the day when we can return to normalcy.)
I would be remiss if I didn’t thank Mother PONYA. She was a guiding light for all of us. She will always be with us.
The one thing I know for sure is that If I had to do it all again, I would not change a thing! The PA family will always be a part of me.
Happy 100th Birthday to The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey!!
Congratulations and Happy Anniversary to one of the greatest organizations in the world! I was fortunate enough to start my career in the PA in 1964. I entered as a Building and Grounds Attendant at the Bus Terminal on 41st street and 8th Avenue.
The PA had training courses, competitive exams and a policy of promoting from within that enabled me to join the Airport Operations field. I spent the first 13 years of my very successful aviation career starting as an Airport Operations agent. Thanks to my training experiences, and a policy that let people learn, grow and advance, I became Assistant Airport Operations Manager/ Terminal Manager working at both LaGuardia and Kennedy airports.
Thanks to my PA career I secured a position in Denver as Airport Operations Manager, a position I held for 19 years before I retired. There were 105 applicants for this position and the 3 finalists were all PA airport employees.
Through the course of my career I came to know how widely respected and admired the PA was! People from the PA had a very positive influence in aviation in places like Tucson, Milwaukee, Denver, Louisville, San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco/Oakland, Dallas and Saudi Arabia to name a few. Quite an accomplishment!
Thank you to one of the most admired, respected, and copied organizations the world has ever known! You certainly did right by me. I am proud to say I was an employee of Mother PONYA! Congratulations and Happy Anniversary again!
As the Port Authority turns 100 years old, we want to express our gratitude for the honor and privilege to have been staff members of this great agency.
Having worked on constructing some of the region’s most important and essential transportation projects provided us the opportunity to participate in the engineering excellence for which the Port Authority is well-known.
It is our hope that the Port Authority continues to be the premiere agency in designing, constructing, maintaining, and operating the region’s transportation facilities.
With pride, we congratulate the Port Authority on this milestone occasion!!!
John DiMilia (retired December 2002)
Bill Foley (retired September 2010)
BEGINNINGS… Spring 1961. The “Port of New York Authority” (a.k.a. PONYA) was recruiting local college students for summer jobs as toll collectors to cover for staff vacations. A few friends and I applied and several of us were hired. We were called “cadets” and were assigned to the Holland Tunnel where we were issued a uniform (gray shirt and slacks) and spent the first week or so in training to learn the rules and procedures of the toll collection job.
The world of toll collecting was very different then as compared with today’s environment. Tolls were collected in both directions. The Holland Tunnel had a toll plaza in Jersey City and one in Manhattan. Police Officers served as toll collectors. No civilians were allowed in the toll booths -- except for us “cadets.” The police also spent part of their tour walking the catwalk inside the tunnel to monitor traffic. And they were on call to handle accidents and disabled vehicles. The toll for a car was fifty cents ($.50) in each direction - - motorcycles were a quarter ($.25). People would give all combinations of coins or big bills to pay the toll – but pennies were not acceptable. We, in turn, used the coins to give change to those who gave different dollar bills. Change for a ten-dollar bill would often be nine singles and small change. As a toll collector, we learned how to handle the coins in a way to help minimize them by the end of the shift in order to simplify the check-out process as much as possible.
At the time, I had no idea that two years later I’d be hired by the Port Authority on a full-time basis. I was told to report to the offices at 111 8th Avenue—the Port Authority Building. Thus began a long term career that ultimately spanned thirty-three years. During that time I had assignments in six different departments ending back where it all began back in 1961 -- in the TB&T department. Who knew?
The pathway of one’s career is often unpredictable, filled with twists and turns and marked with its ups and downs. Sometimes it turns out to be one big circle -- ending where it all began but filled with a range of friendships and experiences that developed and matured over the decades of our working life.
I wonder if it is some sort of cosmic coincidence, that the Port Authority of NY & NJ and I share the same birthday. I am sort of from a PA family. My uncle Lawrence Kendall worked in the PA until his retirement. So did his son, Robert T. Kendall.
I had never thought that I would be part of this organization until June of 1969. A neighbor’s daughter worked for PATH. Her father told my stepfather of a job opening as a conductor. I had recently graduated from college, but was having trouble finding employment due to a 1A draft classification. I went to PATH headquarters in the old Hudson Terminal. I was subsequently hired. The neighbor’s daughter was Karen Matthews, the first female PATH Superintendent of Transportation.
An amusing anecdote: another new hire and I were sent to Holland Tunnel medical. We were told to remove our clothes and wait for a doctor to examine us. We wound up sitting naked on a plastic chair for over an hour, looking out a window watching vehicles exiting the tunnel, until either Dr. Grossman or Dr. Nicosia arrived.
I worked for 38 years. I was at the World Trade Center on 9/11/ 01. I had many diverse experiences in all those years. In all, the Port Authority provided a decent living and decent working conditions. I have no regrets.
To all the families and friends at the port authority: Today I received a postcard saying the Port Authority is turning 100. My husband Joseph Gemellaro worked for the Port Authority for many years. He started as an electrician and then became a chief maintenance supervisor. He worked at the Lincoln Tunnel and then later at the Bayonne Bridge,Goethals Bridge, and Outerbridge Crossing. He also was a Union Representative.
Unfortunately he passed away 10 years ago . However, I would like to say as the wife of a Port Authority employee, we had many wonderful years. The Port Authority had family picnics, Christmas festivities, the men played baseball together and had bowling teams.
We made many good friends and enjoyed the parties. As a wife and mother of three children, I felt secure because The Port gave us good benefits and a secure income. I'm sure my husband would have had many more memories and stories. All I can say is thank you for the nice memories.
My 40-Year Short Story: I began my career in Jan. 1971, with the Port in the maintenance engineering department. This department did design engineering on many Port facilities. Working on rehabilitation projects and new design systems throughout the Port facilities. My first assignment was the replacement of the Holland tunnel lighting system, providing better lighting distribution to the entire tunnel. Projects were designed by engineers first visiting the facility to research the issues and speak to facility managers and field staff!
I spent 15 years in this department becoming familiar with many different facilities, which was a plus for future projects at the Port. I became familiar with electrical distribution systems at the airports and both tunnels!
I then put in for a position in the inspection department for Trade Center tenant alterations. These alterations required inspections by Port engineers and approval to move into the new tenant spaces. These types of inspections were called “TAA” tenant alteration applications.
I was then sent to work at a new facility just starting, THE TELEPORT IN STATEN ISLAND NY. It was a new wave in engineering technology! Satellite communications development and engineering. I spent five years at this facility completing a number of state-of-the-art communications tenant buildings.
Facilities like the Merrill Lynch communications, Telerhouse, A Japanese firm, Telecenter building Port headquarters for all engineering and field inspections and construction. The Teleport was the first facility which had put in place the 33kv electrical distribution system with construction of new substation and distribution to each of the new communication buildings mentioned above. New transformers were placed and installed at each of these new buildings, providing great electrical power services!
I then returned to the Trade Center, with a new promotion and position in the new economic development department. This department would now oversee all existing tenant and new building at many Port facilities. Facilities like BATHGATE in Bronx NY, with tenant buildings as Clay Park pharmaceutical company, and a new day care building for the Bronx community children. This was a joint project with the NYC Building Department and I was successful in obtaining the first “CERTIFICATE OF Occupancy” from that department for the day care building! Other facilities like “resource recovery” a garbage burning facility in New Jersey, the existing Yonkers industrial park in Yonkers NY where they build the rail cars for the NY transit system installing several large transformers to replace very old units.
The Port Authority has completed many new and improved engineering systems throughout all of our and existing tenant buildings throughout NY and NJ. Great accomplishments to enhance the Port Authority region! I was very proud of these engineering accomplishments completed by Port Authority staff!
Let me thank all the great and talented Port Authority staff that I was grateful to be part of for all my years of service. God bless all those PA staff, many who were my close friends and coworkers! May they Rest In Peace!
Just a note to all that may not know this: the Economic Development Department was located on the 86th floor of One World Trade Center. Prior to 9/11-- two weeks prior to that horrible date -- We were relocated to the Newark Legal Center building! All our staff were spared the horror of 9/11!
I thank God for that blessing every day and also pray for my departed friends and coworkers!
This concludes my short story Of my time, 40 years of great experiences!
Thank you,
Be safe and God bless the PORT AUTHORITY OF NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY
The proudest moment of my 38-year career at the Port Authority (1969-2007) was receiving The Executive Director’s Award of Achievement at the 1993 Medal Awards ceremony.
In 1993, the Tunnels Bridges and Terminals Department, formerly known as the Interstate Transportation Department, initiated a new agency-wide $1.7 million commuter benefit program for certain eligible employees, entitled the Transitchek, Metrocard, and PATH Quickcard Program.
It was my responsibility to effectively and efficiently establish, coordinate, and administer this program in a 6-week period to all department administrative coordinators, who in turn distributed the quarterly allowance to eligible staff.
In my 36 years at the Port Authority, I was part of many programs, working with the PA’s talented staff. The PA often "led the way” in many fields including transportation planning and operations. Here are three programs where I had the opportunity to help shape significant advances for PA facilities and for other regional and national networks.
Create a new National standard sign (PA studies for Lincoln Tunnel Third Tube signs) - I joined the PA in the traffic engineering division, headed by Lou Bender… a member of NCUTCD (National Committee on Uniform Traffic Control Devices). I assisted in finalizing the design of the changeable message signs that would inform drivers of roadway status for the changeable direction approach roadways. Three possible messages: enter (directional message), two-way traffic and do not enter). Existing standards could confuse drivers since the “enter" and "do not enter" signs would each be black on white. The PA proposed a new standard, white on red, for “DO NOT ENTER”. This new standard would need to be approved by "the committee." Using Lou's connection I set up field demonstrations for the committee on a closed taxiway at New York International Airport. The white-on-red colors were approved for the Lincoln tunnel signs. Committee follow up then led to adoption of white on red colors for all DO NOT ENTER signs in the United States.
Exclusive Bus Lane (XBL) on New Jersey approach to Lincoln Tunnel - Later I joined the Port Development Department, directed by Roger Gilman. To better coordinate A.M. weekday capacity of the three-lane approach with the tunnel tube roadway operations, consideration was given to reversing a normally westbound approach lane. My traffic analysis concluded that this would be beneficial if the reversed lane was for buses only. This would avoid overfeeding the tunnel and would allow buses to bypass typical A.M. eastbound congestion, with significant time savings for passengers.
Traffic analysis was straightforward, but doing the lane reversal was not simple since this would be a contra-flow lane on the “wrong" side of the existing median. I was project director coordinating seven years of negotiations, with NJDOT and NJ Turnpike and other agencies, leading to approval. The XBL has become a key trans-Hudson link, marking its 50th anniversary in December 2020. PA is now considering autonomous operation to increase passenger flow. XBL also had national impact, as a role model for bus priority programs in other cities.
One-way tolls - PA crossings and other Hudson River crossings - PA planners were aware of the potential safety benefits and cost savings of this concept. Ending of Hudson River vehicular ferries enhanced feasibility of adopting this idea. Port Development, working closely with Tunnels and Bridges, undertook a study with me as project coordinator. The study recognized that we would need to include the six PA crossings and the Hudson river crossings north of the George Washington Bridge. Traffic studies indicated do-ability and benefits. There was concern, however, that a bond covenant for the PA and the other agencies (NY State Thruway Authority and NY State Bridge Authority) would require bondholder approval.
I discussed this concern with California toll agencies at an IBTTA conference, since they had just done one-way tolls at the San Francisco Bay vehicle crossings. Their bond counsel had advised that following the “spirit" of the covenant, bondholder approval was not needed. Consultations between PA lawyers and the California lawyers then led to going ahead with our one-way tolls program.
The Introduction to “Empire on the Hudson,” Jameson Doig’s epic history of our agency, captures its essence: “One important contribution of this volume is to recall us to a time when Americans had confidence that government could confront great problems with imagination and decisiveness and that bureaucracies could be at once honest, effective, and competent.”
During my more than forty years association with the Port Authority I worked with every Chairman from James C. Kellogg III to Anthony Coscia and every Executive Director from Austin Tobin to Chris Ward. With rare exceptions, that description accurately captured the ethos of the Port Authority.
As just two examples, no other organization, public or private, could have recovered from the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center as effectively as we did, selling bonds within days and reopening within weeks, or stayed focused on its recovery, amidst concern for staff after 9/11.
But the Port Authority is more than that…it’s the people, and the people were national and international leaders in their fields who were at least as competent as anyone in the public or private sectors.
We thought of the Port Authority as “Mother PONYA”. It was drummed into us that we had one mission, to serve the people of the region diligently and with integrity. We could disagree on policy, but not be disagreeable. Together we worked hard, took our work seriously, while keeping a sense of humor.
It’s therefore hard to think about my career without thinking of those people. People like General Counsels Sidney Goldstein and Pat Falvey who lead with distinction and gave me a chance to excel; Mike Zarin who lived the importance of public service, attention to detail and human decency; Larry Hofrichter whose dedication and institutional memory were unmatched; Guy Tozzoli, a one-of-a-kind entrepreneur working in a large bureaucracy; Ted Olcott understanding that without big projects, the region would suffer; Vera Canale, the embodiment of mother PONYA; Katy Mackay and Sid Frigand who quickly became part of the Port Authority family; CFO Merle Wahlberg and his shorthand transcript of everything you said so he could ask you about it weeks or even years later; Jack McGoldrick, the best Commissioner ever; Joe Lesser, a real lawyer’s lawyer; Dick Helman and Dave Gallagher who have done so much to demonstrate retirees’ continued dedication through their work with PARA; Stan Brezenoff’s and Ron Shiftan’s leadership after the 1993 bombing and 9/11; Lillian Valenti’s heroic efforts caring for the families of the Authority’s 9/11 victims; Ernesto Butcher’s calming and inspiring public presence; Lou Eisenberg’s service as Chairman during difficult times; Commissioners Hank Henderson’s and Jim Helmuth’s respect for staff; Sandra Van deWalle and Lillian Borrone who were pioneers and role models in predominantly male fields; Milton Pachter who embodied the Port Authority through his ability and enthusiasm; and the thousands of people at all levels, who were and still are the Port Authority but who a 500-word limit makes it impossible to name.
I retired as a Port Authority Police Detective after completing 27 years of service. An incident I will never forget as a Port Authority Police Officer:
I was in full uniform on Mulberry street in Chinatown, going to get a bite to eat before a meeting with a court attorney at the Criminal Court Building. All of a sudden, a guy runs past me being chased by several people. A woman ran up to me and said the guy being chased had snatched her chain. When I caught up with the crowd, several men cornered this individual in a foyer of a building. I ordered the people to step aside and to get off of him. Once he saw me, he said, “Help me officer, please. They’re going to kill me.” He was getting some street justice before I arrested him.
As uniformed police officer, I was assigned for the day at the Passenger Ship Terminal (PST). The Queen Elizabeth 2 was docked and extra officers were assigned there due to a report of possible protesters showing up. Sergeant Walter Kreiss and I were chatting and walking past one of the berths, when a young man walked by us with a frown on his face. He then turned around, gave us his MIDDLE Finger, pulled down his pants and MOONED us. We ran after him and placed him under arrest for disorderly conduct. The next day I received several calls from friends telling me there was a picture of the Sergeant and I in the New York Daily News arresting this guy with his pants falling down. I still have that picture. I want to give a shout out to Sergeant Kriess who passed away in 2020. He was a great boss and wonderful person.
I started at the PONYA like most entry level young men fresh out of high school, in a clerical aide (C8) position. For $69/week I counted bridge & tunnel scrip in the Accounting Division. They started me on July 5 so they wouldn’t have to pay me the holiday. This is probably a position that doesn’t even exist anymore, but it was a good starting place. It was a mix of hard work and fun, but it didn’t last more than a few months, as I promoted into records management and quickly moved from C10 to C14 to C17 in about two years. Some of it was luck and a little skill, but I’m not sure that would happen so quickly in too many organizations.
From there I moved to Engineering as an entry level draftsman and started college work at Pratt Institute, while moving up in the “E” ranks. One of my first drafting jobs was at the PABT working on a future extension of the building. Today, forty-something years later, working for another company, my office is in that same BT Extension, in line of sight from my old BT office.
I had started college under the educational reimbursement program, which at that time was 100% (with certain grades, of course). After two years I qualified for the junior management equivalency test, which I passed and moved into the “B” ranks and into administrative management, another great PA perk. I switched to St. John’s University and eventually graduated. After a brief rest I started at LIU/CW Post and completed my MBA in three years, just at the time PA started reducing the reimbursement rate. I can’t think of another company you could get such a great education paid for – momma PONYA was very good to me.
Several more promotions along the way and moves from Engineering to Public Affairs, OBJO, Technology and Procurement. Many funny things happened along the way (anyone remember the PONYA-Players?). As I inched closer to Executive Band I watched in awe and envy as the Execs entered the executive dining room on 44. But the month I finally made it, the Executive Director (I forget which one) decided it was not very democratic to have some employees more equal than others and scrapped the program.
I have so many great memories, and the sad ones too – February 26, 1993 and many friends lost over the years. I was fortunate to retire the December before 9/11, but so saddened by loss of so many friends.
My story of a 37+year career at The Port Authority of NY & NJ started like many others:
I planned to stay there for one to two years, maximum. When I came to 111 Eighth Avenue for interviews, about to graduate college, I knew almost nothing about New York City and had the vague sense that a Port Authority operated buses, as it did in my hometown of Pittsburgh, PA. Those interviews, and the taxi ride to and from the airport were huge eye-openers. The World Trade Center had been dedicated not long before, on April 4, 1973, and I recall hearing that the Port Authority was gearing up to move its headquarters there soon.
My decision-making was a bit muddled, but eventually the thought of doing something foreign in a place that was equally so to me made as much sense at the time as anything else.
How I ended up staying all those years had a lot to do with the challenge of some very unusual projects and some remarkable mentors, among them Guy Tozzoli, Judy Broverman and Mario Salzano, all “World Trade people.”
Most of my Port Authority Career straddled two departments: World Trade and Public Affairs, and they each had goals of engaging the public and putting a human face on the WTC and the Port Authority.
When directed to “activate the Plaza,” a notoriously wind-swept expanse, and create exhibits for One WTC Mezzanine, a lovely balcony never designed for such fare, our aim was to attract audiences and good publicity, get shoppers and diners into the WTC, and try to replace negative perceptions. While I had nothing to do with “The artistic crime of the century” – Philippe Petit’s daredevil walk between the Towers – my credibility was strained when I wrangled (planned) events including fabric wind sculptures between the Towers, metal wind sculptures secured into the Plaza, a fire (dry ice)-breathing dragon suspended in air for a kite show, hundreds of music, dance, comedy and art performances inside and out, the Buskers Fair with stilt walkers, jugglers, unicyclists, a rock-and-roll puppet band, WTC life-size puppets, and Mardi Gras-like costumed performers, and Children’s Day, the first public event after the 1993 bombing, a spirited gathering of some 10,000 international groups and families on the Plaza. Somewhere along the way we created pop-up restaurants on the Plaza, an ice rink landed there one winter, sports showcases and early evening concerts.
A large part of my career was involved in advertising, marketing and promotion, to attract office tenants and “traffic” to the Observation Deck, Windows on the World, the Marriott WTC Hotel, and the shops and restaurants on the Concourse. I was privileged to work with some amazing designers, artists and photographers who helped us create award-winning campaigns, such as “New York Begins at The World Trade Center.” Happily, I was able to preserve a lot of the physical materials developed for these campaigns, and they are now in the possession of the National September 11 Memorial and Museum archive.
My 9/11/2001 Experience:
I worked for the Port Authority from 1987 to 2017, and during this period there were several events that had a profound effect upon my view of the agency. Certainly, the most profound was the events of September 11, 2001.
On that day, I was in my office on the 68th floor of One World Trade Center preparing for a 9:00 o’clock meeting with two colleagues from Risk Management, Jean Andrucki and Barry Glick. Six weeks prior, the agency had entered into an agreement with Silverstein Properties to lease the World Trade Center (WTC). At that time, I was one of the attorneys in the Law Department assigned to the 1993 WTC Bombing Litigation (“1993 WTC Bombing”). As a result, my colleagues had scheduled the meeting to review the litigated matter.
Just before leaving for the meeting, I stopped in the restroom. While there, I felt the entire building shake as I had never experienced before, and the toilets all flushed at once! When I made my way back to my desk, everyone had left the floor. However, the phones continued to ring and when I answered one of them the caller advised me that he was calling from PAPD.
The officer informed me that a plane had hit the building. In light of my experience with the 1993 WTC Bombing, I knew there would be numerous lawsuits, so I decided that I needed to stay and get to work. Subsequently, I received a call from Gerry Crowley, who had recently been promoted to the Chief of New York Litigation. Gerry warned me that the building was on fire and urged me to leave. I explained to him that a plane had struck the building and there would be many lawsuits. I also thought that it was safer to remain in my office since except for the six people killed in 1993, most of the injuries were due to smoke inhalation by people who were forced to walk down the smoke-filled stairwells.
As 9:00 o’clock approached, I decided to tune my radio to 1010 WINS so I could hear the news. Coincidentally, the fire alarms went off right at the time the news would come on, so I immediately left the floor as we had been instructed to do on numerous occasions. When I entered the stairwell, there were already many people making their way down as well as firefighters on their way up to the location of the disaster. I made my way down to the Concourse level just before the collapse of the South Tower but did not make it out of the complex. The last thing I remembered was someone saying take cover before the entire complex went dark and I was caught in what felt like a tsunami. Next, I remembered seeing bright lights from the rescuers who assisted me in getting out. Unfortunately, 84 of my colleagues, including Jean and Barry, did not make it.
Although I worked in the Engineering Department during the summers of 1960 and 1961 while in college, and then in the Aviation Department in 1982-1983 - all three experiences being entirely positive - it was in the early 1970s when I was working at the Tri-State Regional Planning Commission that I not only got to work closely with a number of PA people, but where I functioned as a conduit for federal funds to the PA which I thought was the first time the PA received federal funds. (Bob Isaacs mentioned earlier aviation funding from the feds.) I managed a federally funded demonstration program which consisted of a number of projects, at least two of which were managed by PA staff: The phenomenally successful XBL project managed by Lee Goodman and Carl Selinger in Planning and Development and a Bus Priority and Transportation Management Project managed by Bob Foote, Bob Hauslen, Al Gonseth (with whom I also interfaced when he was in P&D), Carroll White, Ron Cunningham, etc.; they were in Tunnels & Bridges Research (before T&B merged with Terminals to become TB&T). There were many people in P&D with whom I dealt in my Tri-State years and who I fondly remember. Did you know that the (first?) head of P&D - Roger Gilman - was the first executive director of Tri-State, on loan from the PA?
On 9/11, my (now late) wife, Adrienne, and I were in Boston at an IBTTA annual meeting with Ken Philmus. Ken has kidded me many times afterwards about how many times I heard his story. I remember going to lunch subsequently, not with Ken, but with his mentor, Ernesto Butcher and commenting on the address of his office on (I believe) East 18th Street: 111. That had been, of course, the original PAB on 8th Avenue.
As the PA Aviation Planning Division was the last place I worked that was part of the NYS Retirement System, that system considers me a PA retiree (although I am apparently not entitled to any PA benefits). Hence, when in south FL, I carpool to PARA lunches with Bob Isaacs and Paul Shulman. Perhaps, one day I will get to one of the PARA lunches in the NY-NJ area.
STATEN ISLAND TOLL COLLECTORS, WOMEN ONLY- 25 YEARS OLD, 5’ 4”+ HEIGHT, HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA
I was 25 years old at the time living with my sister in Staten Island. I had just moved back to the island from Boston and was looking for a job. My brother-in-law saw the ad and passed it along. The interview was held at George Washington bridge and I got the job.
I was hired and part of the first group of civilian women toll collectors for Staten Island. There were several weeks of training, yes weeks! The training was more of an etiquette class than having anything to do with collecting tolls. We were taught to walk properly, dress properly -- with white gloves, skirts, makeup, perfume, high-heels, and even told to wear the right jewelry. They taught us how to stand properly and made us practice, standing was required for our eight-hour shifts.
The first bridge I was assigned was the Bayonne bridge, where I collected tolls from people on both sides, coming from New Jersey and leaving New York. It was early morning when I was working in 1970 that the toll was changed to only one way. I remember that day and the confusion everyone had with the change...but over the past half a century the changes were far bigger than I could imagine. THE TOLL WAS LESS THAN .50 CENTS WHEN I STARTED!
Us women from those early years walked the picket line for pay and benefits, filled the board meetings in the World Trade Center with raucous protesting, fought for our rights to maintain our jobs when we were married and had children (I was the first to get married and have children while working) and we became a close group.
I loved my job, enjoyed all the people I worked with, and brightened the days of the regular customers. Some of my fondest memories are of my job and the amazing people! Being a toll collector paid for my house, for my children to go to college, gave me great medical and dental benefits and a retirement that still leaves me, now in my 80’s and a survivor of several cancers, comfortable.
Today my grandchildren do not understand having to stop at a toll lane to pay a toll, the entire job has all but faded away and been replaced with technology. The booths we worked in, offices, break rooms demolished. Even some of the bridges have been replaced and the central offices in the World Trade Center where I would visit some of the women who rose up the ranks at the Port of Authority after I retired were taken away -- but the memories remain good and strong.
Daniel Karas - Detective Sergeant PAPD
The World Trade Center has always been a touchstone for my earliest PA memories. How impressive it was as a 21-year-old police candidate to be interviewed by HR and PA Medical at the WTC. In my early years with the PAPD, I looked forward to being assigned to the Trade Center.
My favorite post was the Observation Deck, I never tired of that view. Even after 23 years, I can honestly say I enjoyed going to work every single day. On July 4, 2000, my wife and I were invited to witness President Clinton give the oath of citizenship to a group of sailors on board the USS John F. Kennedy. The aircraft carrier was at anchor in the shadow of the Trade Center, afterwards we watched the fireworks from 110B. The NYC skyline will never be the same.
I was at the Lincoln Tunnel Police Desk when cameras were installed in the South Tube. On the radio the PA had me announce that the air in the tunnel was pretty much the same as at Broadway and 42nd St.
In addition, it was also on radio that the new supersonic airplane [the Concorde] was coming to JFK and that the noise factor was as quiet as jets in use (only lasted a few years).
My name is Carol Kelly and I am writing on behalf of my deceased husband, J. Joseph Kelly (3/3/36-2/15/2020).
Joe worked for the PA for 49 years. J. Joseph Kelly began his career at the PA right after graduation from Manhattan College with Civil and Structural Engineering credentials. This was his FIRST and ONLY Job.
I'm sure there are records of his involvement in many, many projects. These are some of the ones I know of...March 5, 1976 I found an award for Achievement from PA.......There's an award for the George Washington Bridge Upper Deck Replacement 1977-1978..... In 1989 Joe traveled to San Francisco to consult on damage to Golden Gate Bridge as a result of San Francisco-Oakland Earthquake. He also traveled to Europe, England, and Paris to consult on bridge structures. He was also actively involved in the construction of the Twin Towers. Joe was a man of few words and did not always share many of his accomplishments.
Joe survived the 1993 bombing of PA and was instrumental in the repair, He was also a survivor of 9/11. He escaped Tower One on that fateful day from the 74th floor. We have pictures and his clothes from that day. 9/11 is a memory and loss that Joe and I and our family never recovered from.
When Joe arrived home, covered in ash, bloody and exhausted and suffering pain in his legs and back (a piece of ceiling from Tower One had hit him as he was helping another person). He was in shock as we watched again the implosion of the Twin Towers and it was heartbreaking for Joe to call the PA number to say he survived knowing how many did not. Joe continued to work for the PA for four more years commuting to New Jersey When Joe did retire in 2005, he subsequently had a stroke which revealed he had had many "silent heart attacks." He also suffered from COPD and developed Parkinson's Disease, He succumbed to the ravages of the disease on Feb. 15, 2020.
Joe was a quiet man, but an intelligent, hardworking, deeply committed employee of PA. While these accounts may not be what you are looking for to commemorate PA anniversary they are realities of some of the history of Joe's tenure at the PA.
Forty-Five years ago on December 29, 1975 – four days after Christmas, at 6:30 PM, a bomb was set off in the baggage area of LaGuardia Airport.
I was working the 4-12 shift in the Central Hearing Plant located adjacent to the wall separating the power plant from the baggage area.
The blast knocked down a small section of the wall and knocked me almost on my butt. This exposed the power plant to smoke but not fire. The very first things we did (three of us) was to secure the power plant, which meant securing the boiler and high-temperature hot water systems. If a high-temp-waterline broke, we would have been boiled (as high-temp hot water becomes high-pressure steam).
The power plant has overhead exhaust fans which we turned on the exhaust some of the smoke. With many of the windows blown out in TWA’s area, smoke was escaping via the draft of many openings.
When the Fire Department came, they went to work with the hoses to extinguish fires. Water was everywhere. It took one to one-and-a-half hours for the area to be fire- and smoke-free.
What I saw momentarily was destruction, blood, and water running out the doors into the street and the airport apron.
I worked there for two days. Our main focus was getting the power or central hearing plant up and running and to be sure certain areas were properly secured.
What has always bothered me was that I looked for answers, but the press and the investigations were short-lived. I believe to date, there were never any arrests and no claims of who was responsible or why it was done.
In summary:
I started my 32-year career as a Management Trainee at The Port Authority (“PA”) in 1965 at the height of integrity in its leadership, governance for the public good. Notably, the agency’s leadership prided itself on its staff adhering and focus on to the highest levels of professional standards, competence, and personal integrity. The Executive Director and The PA Board Members resisted strenuously and successfully for decades undue day-to-day political influence in the agency’s operations.
The PA’s culture encouraged staff to continue both higher education and professional development. PA top leadership understood that the PA’s strength was its well-trained, non-political staff, operating with integrity and fact-based professionalism. Top leadership’s insulation of staff from day-to-day political concerns I believe facilitated the PA being so successful in serving the public, allowing the PA to earn its coveted reputation as a uniquely effective public institution.
Early in my career, I had the good fortune to work on studies leading to fostering the “Containerization Revolution” in the transportation industry. This was a “disruptor,” in today’s jargon, of the then predominant “break-bulk” method of shipping. Similarly, I worked as Assistant Director of the “Airport Opportunity Study,” 1969-1970, focusing on the need to provide upward mobility, and business opportunities, in the Aviation industry for minorities and women, highlighting that just providing entry level jobs was not sufficient. To this day, the Council for Airport Opportunity (“CAO”), established in 1972 as a result of our study, continues to foster these goals in the Aviation industry, for which I am proud to have been a part. Here again, the PA was at the forefront of “disrupting” “accepted” management practices—decades “ahead of its time.”
I served largely in the Planning and Development and Aviation Departments until 1977, when I and 100 other PA colleagues participated in the work of “The Committee on the Future” initiated by Peter Goldmark, Jr. That major effort resulted in recommendations for the NY/NJ Region and the PA to focus on “Waterfront Development;” “Resource Recovery— ‘Gold from Garbage’ in the form of energy production;” and “Infrastructure Development” among other recommendations.
“Waterfront Development” became my passion for the remainder of my career, thereafter and to this day. An Act of Congress and Bi-State legislation were achieved to permit the PA to help municipalities effectuate redevelopment of selected deteriorated waterfronts—"Queens West” and “Hoboken’s South Waterfront” continue to provide many regional benefits. (I once counted that 1,000 or more PA employees at one time or another contributed to this work—for which I am grateful.)
In 1996, after leading The P A’s waterfront development efforts and providing overall direction to five other economic developments operated by the PA, I retired as General Manager, Regional and Economic Development, Port Department.
Membership in PARA and my serving as its Vice President for a number of years facilitates my maintaining valued connections to the PA and former colleagues.
Loretta (Pisano) Brath, Margaret (Pallotta) Larsen, Joyce (Nilsen) Martinsen
“Mother PONYA” Memories - We are three retirees who would like to reflect on the fond memories that we have working for the Port Authority and the many friends we made through the years. Here are a few of those memories to share in celebration of the agency’s 100th anniversary.
On November 23, 1970, as members of the WTC Operations team under the direction of Manager Richard F. Ehmann, we became the first PA employees to occupy space in Suite 1067 of One World Trade Center a.k.a. “Tower A.” In those early days we all came in to work via a covered “sheep run” which was the only means of ingress/egress and which eventually became the WTC Concourse. There was only one elevator, a construction elevator, for everyone working at the site to use which was operated by “Gene.” There was no such thing as an elevator button so we either had to shout out his name or give a very hard-handed rap on the elevator door for service.
The entire site was still under construction and had not yet been taken over by WTC Operations. However, for those of us in the “office” there were issues that had to be addressed ASAP. The first and most important was safety. Our wonderful manager Dick Ehmann set up a “buddy system” for us eight women since ANYWHERE we went, inside or outside the building, we could never travel alone. A WTC Police Command was also established, led by Captain John Simons and his team of Police Officers, ensuring any and all public safety concerns were addressed. The next issue was temperature control. It was very cold in the office and for that matter the entire building, so we had to wear our coats almost always. The topping out of the roof did not happen until December 23, 1970, so heat was a big issue. Some examples of temporary measures that were employed were big portable gas heaters in the restrooms and anti-freeze in the toilets and everyone had an electric heater near or under their desks.
The big day and official opening was on December 15, 1970 when the very first companies moved into One WTC. A very exciting time! Communication with these brave new tenants was of paramount importance and a high priority for the WTC Operations team and we initiated creative ways to keep in contact with them on a daily basis. We would hand-deliver, in person, pertinent information via bulletins to apprise them of any and all updates regarding the building. We welcomed them with excellent customer service and established a terrific working relationship with all of them. To this day we reminisce over those “pioneer times” at WTC as the most memorable of our PA careers.
As we celebrate this 100-year milestone anniversary we feel honored to have worked for a company that became our family. Even now after retirement we are still in touch with many of our co-worker friends and we will ALWAYS remember the loss of our PA friends who were injured or perished on February 26, 1993 and September 11, 2001 and we will always cherish the wonderful memories we had working for Mother “PONYA.”
At 6:30 am, on May 26, 1977 George Willig, better known as the "Human Fly" started climbing up the side of 2 WTC. About 7:30am I arrived at my desk on the 69th floor of 1 WTC. Starting to sip my first coffee of the day I looked out my window at the South Tower and incredulously at a figure climbing the wall.
As I stared out the window, I heard a voice from behind me and someone with a heavy French accent asked if he could come over to watch the climber. To my surprise I recognized him immediately. It was Philippe Petit, who I watched walking the high wire between the towers a few years earlier from this same window. He "happened" to be visiting the Public Affairs Department that morning, but their windows faced East so he couldn't see the action from there. We watched for a while and then he said to me, "That guy is crazy." I turned slowly to face him, smiled a little, and all I could think of saying was, " Are you kidding me." He deadpanned he was serious.
He thought walking up the side of the building was more dangerous than walking the wire. We watched a little bit longer and then before he left I got his autograph on a buck slip, which of course I still have. What a great PA memory.
A few months ago in the PARA newsletter # 64 there was an article regarding the old PAB. The subject was the removal of all the doorknobs throughout the sixteen floors of the building. The doorknobs which have the original Port Authority LOGO. They were then going to be polished and restored by the Port Authority Machine Shop. Charlie Sadowski and I were given the assignment.
There were well over a thousand at least. The doorknobs were then set in acrylic. When the project was completed the doorknobs were presented to VIP’S in both states. This all took place sometime between 1968 and 1970. I have many more great memories of my 28 years with the PORT AUTHORITY. GOD BLESS THE PORT AUTHORITY OF NY & NJ.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey: A Unique Vision - In the 1960’s my evening route from 111 8th Ave. to NYU’s Graduate School in lower Manhattan took me past the foundation bathtub for the World Trade Center. The PATH tube was visible. It was an astounding undertaking. I felt pride in this effort since my work at this time was to handle on the capital accounts for the WTC and PATH.
A professor at NYU told us that we should not expect any organization to have a heart. The people in the organization may, but the organization itself is soulless. The unique charisma of the Port Authority to me was the general commitment of the people to the varied tasks at hand. The goal of a corporation is to maximize shareholder wealth, but the Port Authority had the task of providing an engine for regional economic growth. Unlike other government agencies the Port Authority could and did take risks in achieving this goal.
PA projects and facilities resulted in varied degrees of success and failure. This was an agency that had to deal with risk. Successes are evident in the airport, rail, bus, vehicle, ocean, and real estate operations. Failures include inland truck terminals, Fishport, and auto ship ferry to Grand Bahama. The leadership had a progressive vision for the organization that was shared by a majority of my co-workers.
By the time the WTC towers were nearly complete, I was a civilian in the Police Division. One of the perks was that the detectives took me to the WTC and we went to the top of one of the towers where the corner windows were still open. They held me and I leaned out to look a quarter of a mile down. I think they wanted to test me to see if I would falter, but at the time I thought it was great.
I was in Planning and Development in 1993 at the time of the first attack on the WTC. The Port Authority people responded to form with all hands continuing their work or taking on new tasks.
In 1997, I went to San Francisco to work for BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit). Fortunately, my colleagues at BART mirrored the professionalism and shared values of the Port Authority staff.
Then came 9/11 and the grief felt across the country. In shock I couldn’t help but recall looking down from the heights of the WTC tower and now thinking of the horror faced by those in the buildings. God bless them.
I am left to think of the advice that Daniel Patrick Moynihan gave to fellow White House staff after the assassination of President Kennedy. He said that they would smile and even laugh again, but they would never be young again. The Port Authority of our past will not happen again. The future of the organization will be a new vision shaped by the current and future staff.
“Public Service Means Doing the Right Thing” - When I joined the Port Authority in 1984, I thought I was going to work in the maritime industry and I didn't give a moment's thought to the public service aspect of the organization. Sure, I knew that the Port Authority was a public agency, but I focused on my job and didn't see the bigger picture.
It took me a few years to find my calling doing leasing and operations and to realize I was working for the people of the region, and we usually did the "right thing," not only based on finances, but also to promote jobs, tonnage, and other regional benefits. I loved being one of the good guys and doing the "right thing."
As I became more senior and got exposed to high level negotiations doing the right thing became harder, but the Port Authority staff I worked alongside always had that same do the "right thing" attitude. As the Port Authority turns 100 this year, I'm grateful that I had the opportunity to work with the best public servants in the world's best public agency.
Balusters - Yes, balusters! As a young, inexperienced structural engineering trainee at the Port of New York Authority, I learned all about “balusters” the hard way.
I am not talking about the wood spindle types that support the handrail of stairs in your home. I am talking about the vertical steel posts that act as elements of a vehicular guardrail assembly on roadways. The posts support the principal elements of the guardrail, which keeps vehicles from leaving elevated roadways.
In the early 70s, the design of the LGA Parking Garage had started while we were at 111 8th Avenue, and it continued after we moved to our new location at the WTC. I was assigned to design the structural roadways leading into and out of the parking structure’s third floor. I had relished the extent of this responsibility.
After the construction contract was awarded, we had a shop drawing review and approval process. I went into this design-construction phase with a renewed sense of purpose because I would be close to seeing the actual construction of the portion of the project that I personally designed and worked on. The planning and design phases were significant steps in accomplishing that end.
Shop drawings of the roadways started to come in. The contractor’s detailer, who prepared the shop drawings, would occasionally bubble-circle a note on a shop drawing to bring attention to a specific question to be addressed and answered.
One of these circled questions had to do with the “balusters”. In this case, it had to do with the steel posts that supported steel plates as part of the railing assembly. These posts were to be anchored to the roadways’ concrete surfaces.
“Are the posts perpendicular to the slope of the roadway?”, was one key question. In other words, for those of you who may not understand the significance of this question, it translates to: “Are the balusters perpendicular to the slope of the ‘stair’?” I must admit that I was a little puzzled as to why the question and how to answer. Yet, I was determined to give it a thoughtful response.
On the contract drawings that defined the nature of the work, there was a detail of all steel posts and it plainly showed that all vertical elements were to be plumb. However, there were also drawing elevations of the inbound and outbound roadways showing that the posts were perpendicular to the slope of both roadways – a troubling indication of the lack of clarity in communicating via drawings. So, this led me to conclude as to why the detailer was asking this question. In the elevation, it was evident that the posts were shown to be inclined and not plumb, even though the slope of the roadways was slight and not as steep as the slope of a typical staircase.
Now, how to answer? As a typical inexperienced engineer, I rationalized that it would be a lot easier to fabricate the railing assembly if the posts were perpendicular to the slope of the roadways. Cutting all plates at angles (take a look at the angle cuts at the top of each wood spindle beneath the handrail in your home) would be eliminated. There was lots of welding to be done between the steel posts and base plates, and between the posts and top and middle railing plates. So, I answered “yes” to the detailer’s question – proud not to sacrifice function while making fabrication much easier.
Obviously and ignorantly, I had totally ignored how it might look to knowledgeable and aesthetically trained eyes – like those of architects, or anyone who is sensitive to observe anything that is off being plumb.
Nevertheless, the posts were built this way – inclined and perpendicular to the slope of the roadways!
After construction, every time I went to LGA or passed by on the Grand Central Parkway, my eyes were drawn to those tilted posts. I had imagined how the fabrication professionals, who probably knew better, were making fun of some engineer at the PONYA – moi – who had approved the shop drawings that way.
Now that the garage structure and the roadways have been demolished, thanks to the current LGA Redevelopment Project, I no longer have any evidence of that aesthetic flaw – that mistake, in my mind, a failure to communicate.
Needless to say, today, I must admit that when I look at “balusters”, I am often reminded about the posts at LGA, which are no longer there – plumb, perpendicular or otherwise.
I spent my entire 15-year career at LaGuardia Airport.
I was hired as a temporary from Kelly Services for a short period of time to work in the Airport Facilities Division as a clerical support person for three engineers. After about 3 months, I was encouraged by the team to apply for a permanent position with the PA. I decided to take their advice. They coached me in the preparation for the exam and typing test. They liked my work as a temp and kept my encouragement up. I passed the exam but had to retake the typing Test several times. I became discouraged but the engineers were persistent, and I finally passed, thanks to their help and guidance. I am forever grateful for the support that the AFD division gave me.
When a vacancy became available within the division, I was placed (due to my skills I developed while working with the engineers) to work as a support in the Central Heating and Refrigeration Plant in the Central Terminal Building. I handled the timekeeping, licenses, petty cash for three supervisors and the maintenance staff. It was like a one-woman show but I adapted rather well and I formed a good alliance with staff, tenants, and vendors. It was quite a rewarding experience.
My last and final assignment was working in the Police Emergency Garage as a support for the Public Safety Division. What a challenging and diverse environment to work in. Got a chance to meet several elected officials, dignitaries, Secret Service, etc. I enjoyed the camaraderie of the staff and the officers taught me a lot about protecting myself in public.
I had a most fulfilling career with the Port Authority.
Bayonne Bridge, Staten Island. After many years of planning and strategizing, the Port Authority was about to launch a new technology to collect tolls at the stroke of midnight, Sunday June 29, 1997.
While E-ZPass had been operational at other toll agencies in the region, this was the Port Authority’s inauguration into electronic toll collection. The Bayonne Bridge was selected to be the first facility for this sequential implementation of E-ZPass across the agency’s six crossings. As the Assistant Manager of SIB, I was thrilled to be part of this exciting project. For weeks and months prior to the roll out, the E-ZPass system had been exhaustively end-to end tested by the expert technology personnel. Facility maintenance staff worked in conjunction with the technology staff to ensure electrical and mechanical systems were fully capable to handle this new technology. Prior to roll out, enrollment in the E-ZPass program was very actively promoted by the Customer Services staff through various outreach programs. Tolls and Operations staff had been given hands-on training in the day-to-day running of the system.
The stage was now set, all the key components were poised to become operational. Staff was present on the toll plaza that day and night to ensure a smooth transition. All that was needed now was to press the arrow key on the computer terminal in the toll house to go live and enter a new world of toll collection. The key was pressed, the E-ZPass curtain sign scrolled up. Hooray, it’s operational, we’re in a new era of toll collection!
I worked for the Port Authority for 36.5 years at various facilities including the PABT, the Holland Tunnel, JSTC (field office), JFKIA & my last years at LGA.
There were opportunities to move up regularly, which I tried to do when needed and open, but the lasting & most memorable in my lifetime with Mother PONYA was Job Sharing. It was a new concept and people were willing to work with us -- to take a chance that it could work smoothly with no interruption in procedure, communication, and job performance. It saved my sanity since I hated the thought of leaving my child, but knowing I had to work as we all do. It was the best of both worlds - I didn't feel as guilty leaving him -- now for a shorter amount of days, and yet I still felt grateful that I got to spend more time with him in his "formative years!” Thank you Mother PONYA!
Karen Mandart
6 feet apart today is better than
6 feet under tomorrow!
Stay healthy and smart!
From Robert Marino - This is my father who was a police officer who was awarded the Medal of Honor back in 1961.
I have additional photos and newspaper clipping from that day as I was only a kid at the time and I went on to work for the Port Authority as an electrician but had to retire early on a medical disability.
Loretta (Pisano) Brath, Margaret (Pallotta) Larsen, Joyce (Nilsen) Martinsen
“Mother PONYA” Memories - We are three retirees who would like to reflect on the fond memories that we have working for the Port Authority and the many friends we made through the years. Here are a few of those memories to share in celebration of the agency’s 100th anniversary.
On November 23, 1970, as members of the WTC Operations team under the direction of Manager Richard F. Ehmann, we became the first PA employees to occupy space in Suite 1067 of One World Trade Center a.k.a. “Tower A.” In those early days we all came in to work via a covered “sheep run” which was the only means of ingress/egress and which eventually became the WTC Concourse. There was only one elevator, a construction elevator, for everyone working at the site to use which was operated by “Gene.” There was no such thing as an elevator button so we either had to shout out his name or give a very hard-handed rap on the elevator door for service.
The entire site was still under construction and had not yet been taken over by WTC Operations. However, for those of us in the “office” there were issues that had to be addressed ASAP. The first and most important was safety. Our wonderful manager Dick Ehmann set up a “buddy system” for us eight women since ANYWHERE we went, inside or outside the building, we could never travel alone. A WTC Police Command was also established, led by Captain John Simons and his team of Police Officers, ensuring any and all public safety concerns were addressed. The next issue was temperature control. It was very cold in the office and for that matter the entire building, so we had to wear our coats almost always. The topping out of the roof did not happen until December 23, 1970, so heat was a big issue. Some examples of temporary measures that were employed were big portable gas heaters in the restrooms and anti-freeze in the toilets and everyone had an electric heater near or under their desks.
The big day and official opening was on December 15, 1970 when the very first companies moved into One WTC. A very exciting time! Communication with these brave new tenants was of paramount importance and a high priority for the WTC Operations team and we initiated creative ways to keep in contact with them on a daily basis. We would hand-deliver, in person, pertinent information via bulletins to apprise them of any and all updates regarding the building. We welcomed them with excellent customer service and established a terrific working relationship with all of them. To this day we reminisce over those “pioneer times” at WTC as the most memorable of our PA careers.
As we celebrate this 100-year milestone anniversary we feel honored to have worked for a company that became our family. Even now after retirement we are still in touch with many of our co-worker friends and we will ALWAYS remember the loss of our PA friends who were injured or perished on February 26, 1993 and September 11, 2001 and we will always cherish the wonderful memories we had working for Mother “PONYA.”
I started working in the Port of New York Authority's Management Personnel Division on October 30, 1970. My uncle, William Munster, was a PA Police Captain and my cousin Jane Froggatt also worked in Personnel.
One of my favorite experiences was returning to the Operating Personnel Division in December 1975, landing headfirst into the Police Officer Recruitment. There were over 7,000 applicants; NYC had laid off civil servant workers and hundreds of applicants were from the NYPD and FDNY. It was a crazy time.
I joined the Engineering Department Design Division in 1983 and stayed there until my retirement in December 2002. As a Contract Administrator, I met so many people, inside and outside the PA. I have so many wonderful memories and have made life-long friends. I am very proud to be a member of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Family. Happy 100th!
Hi - my name is Donna Maxwell and I worked at the GWB as a Senior Toll Collector.
It was my honor to see a childhood wish of retiring with a pension came to pass through The Port Authority, and I will always remember PA fondly.
I was a Senior Toll Collector at the GWB and saw lots of interesting happenings while at work. Here is one of them.
My supervisor and I were working in the afternoon (4X12 shift). We saw this truck pulling a trailer over in front of the toll house. We watched and waited for the driver to get out and come to the toll house. While waiting the trailer began to move back & forth, side to side. We couldn't imagine what in the world was going on. Finally, the driver came in and asked if we could fill a bucket he had with water. We said, of course, but what did he need water for? He told us to watch. He went back to his trailer and opened a side door which was facing the toll house. Out came an elephant head with his trunk. It was a small elephant. I guess the elephant was simply thirsty. I went out to get a closer look and was able to pet the elephant's trunk. He was very cute and tame. The driver said he was taking him to the circus at Madison Square Garden.
I also saw famous people crossing the bridge. One night in particular as I was working the lower level, and it was a slow Sunday night and I was doing relief in Lane 76 (I believe). It was one of the two lanes closest to the toll house. It was around 8:30 pm and this long limo was entering my lane. When it got to my booth, I peeked in to catch a glimpse of who it might be. I saw this profile of a man sitting in the passenger seat and I couldn't miss who it was. I said, “Is that you President Nixon?” He told me it was him. He chatted with me for a few minutes before they drove off. It was very exciting.
My most special memory was becoming a member of the World Trade Department’s Planning Division.
I joined the Planning Division in 1972 under the supervision of Philip D. Goz, Project Administrator. Phil mentored me and his professionalism guided me throughout my career. Phil’s unit was responsible for the preparation, bid, and award of all contracts for the continued building of the World Trade Center complex. Two unforgettable projects to which I was assigned were the Windows on the World Restaurant in 1 World Trade Center and the TV antenna mast atop of 1 World Trade Center.
The Windows on the World project was a memorable one for me. I had the opportunity to learn about restaurant operations working with restaurateur Joseph Baum and his staff. I had the experience of working with the architectural firm of Warren Platner, which was responsible for the restaurant’s design, equipment, furniture, and high-end finishes that went into making Windows on The World a worldwide destination. The restaurant opened in April 1976.
The TV antenna mast project was a rewarding experience working with Lester Feld, the Chief Structural Engineer for the World Trade Department, and Clure Owen, consultant for the TV and FM radio broadcasters and RCA, the fabricator of the antenna mast. The logistics of delivering the 360-ft mast in sections from RCA’s plant in Gibbsboro, New Jersey and hoisting them to the roof of 1 World Trade Center was unique and challenging. One original kangaroo crane, used for the construction of 1 World Trade Center, was left in place for this project. When the mast was completed, the crane was disassembled and removed. The TV and FM broadcasters installed their transmitting equipment on the mast and commenced broadcasting from the World Trade Center in June 1980.
I want to recognize the leadership in the World Trade Department that made the World Trade Center complex a reality: Guy F. Tozzoli, Director; Malcom P. Levy, Deputy Director for Physical Facilities; and Robert J. Linn, Chief of Planning and Design.
25 Years in Automotive in the Port Authority - There are many reasons my years working in Automotive at the Port Authority were great years. The Port Authority provided a safe working environment. We had the opportunity to do interesting and varied work and be a part of a team that made a difference.
When I started working at the Port Authority in 1981, I was Automotive Society of Engineers Certified and had two years’ experience working as a mechanic, so I answered an ad in the NY Times for an automotive mechanic. I passed the written test with flying colors, but the practical test was a different matter. I had previously only worked on brakes and front-end alignments, so although I was certified in electrical and tune-up, I had very little experience in the real world. Because the Port Authority was committed to hiring women in non-traditional fields, they gave me a chance and offered me a job as a garage attendant with the opportunity to move up to mechanic. I started at the George Washington Bridge and transferred to the basement shop in the World Trade Center as an auto mechanic.
Having strong democratic unions made a huge difference. When I was a garage attendant, I and another woman maintenance worker were bypassed for snow overtime. The TWU fought for me. Being represented by UOAT, part of the SEIU, made a big difference in my work life. Because of the UOAT we had good salary and benefits. The UOAT kept the 2-person road-call rule, to protect us from dangers working alone in traffic or with tow-trucks. The UOAT maintained the overtime roster, preventing the favoritism that would have happened if foremen had selected workers for overtime. The union prevented the Port Authority from farming out our work. We had excellent leadership with John Lynch and because we were democratic the members worked hard to enforce our contract. The union even got us medical benefits in retirement.
We were beneficiaries of a commitment to worker safety from the Port Authority and the Union. The Port Authority generally provided us with the equipment we needed to do the job correctly. We had equipment to capture asbestos dust. The foremen liked tools as much as we did and they were usually willing to get the tool that would save time and fingers.
We worked on a wide variety of equipment (Priuses when they first came out, police cars, pickups, bucket loaders, firefighting trucks, small diesel-driven pumps, motorcycles, catwalk cars, scarifiers, one-of-a-kind trucks for washing tunnels) – too many to mention. And we had the opportunity to work on every system in the vehicle except serious bodywork and automatic transmission repair. We were never bored.
We had a cooperative rather than competitive work atmosphere (Back when I worked in a private shop, the tune-up specialists wouldn’t tell me anything. (They were hoping I would fail). At the Port Authority I loved having the opportunity to solve a problem every day. I loved working independently alongside others who were willing to give advice or assistance if necessary.
We had our own lunchroom, enjoying our own cooked meals during snow duty. Sometimes the night crew cooked us breakfast before we changed shifts. Every year we hosted a holiday party from our shop with our families and the front office as guests.
We were a family.
I started with the PANYNJ on 10/31/1972 in the Mailroom located on 111 8th Avenue right after High School. I was given an assignment to work with the Secretary’s Office soon afterwards as their personal mailman.
We moved to the WTC in January 1973. On April 4, 1973 I was designated to be one of the staff members to open the WTC doors for business as Peter Goldmark greeted the occupants. I worked for the PA for 39.5 wonderful years. I had the pleasure to introduce to the WTC and public the wonderful sounds of Latin Jazz and Salsa music. Director Albert Moncure gave me and Edward Calderon (RIP) special permission to do so and it was an immediate success and the public loved it.
I also was instrumental in introducing personal computer and fax machines to the PA. Technology was my strength and schooling. I had many supervisory positions but the most important one was the Mailroom job. I was supervising the Mailroom in 1993 when the bomb exploded 120 feet from my office on the B-3 level in the PA Stockroom. My accomplishment was to have the Mailroom functioning again in 72 hours to all the facilities with no downtime.
I received a Metal of Valor for me helping several people on the B-2 level out to safety and big award from and nationwide Postal Mailing Organization for the great job we did with the Mailroom after the bombing.
On 9/11, I was in my office on the 68th floor 1 WTC when the first plane hit our building and after search and rescue responsibility, I managed to get out minutes before the second tower fell. I worked in Ground Zero for nine years then retired in January 2010. Unfortunately, today I have cancer and respiratory and other issues today but I have no regrets.
Below is one of my stories when I worked with The Port Authority of NY and NJ Aviation Department from March 1998 until my retirement in September 2009 to celebrate the PANYNJ Centennial.
As an aviation person who worked for Pan American World Airways, Triangle Aviation and The PANYNJ, I am humbled and honored to share my memories and this story. I enjoyed working with Bob Kelly, Bill DeCota, Sue Baer, Joanne Paternoster and Lysa Scully and all my former colleagues in the aviation department but my special story below is related to what happened on September 10, 2001 and after the tragic events of 9-11.
On September 10, 2001 I was leaving 1 WTC when I ran into William (Bill) Fallon of Port Commerce who asked me to meet with him on September 11 to discuss an upcoming visit by an Egyptian delegation from the Suez Canal since I had offered Bill some suggestions for his upcoming meeting. As I was leaving work on September 10, I told Bill that I will be in Washington DC on September 11 meeting with the US DOT on behalf of the Aviation Department for the handling of disabled passengers at PANYNJ airports and that I could meet with him on September 12 when I get back from DC.
When I got back from DC late on September 11 on board an Amtrak train that carried many first responders and medical teams, I was only thinking about my PANYNJ colleagues and tried to reach as many as I could but it took me over a week to learn who made it out of the buildings and who did not.
William Fallon did not make it out of the building and I will never forget that.
Each time prior to the pandemic when I visited downtown and the WTC sites, I always stopped by Bill Fallon's name to pay my respect and say a prayer for Bill, his family and all those who died that day. What made me think of writing this email is the recent events in the Suez Canal with a container ship that is blocking the canal and my brief conversation with Bill Fallon about the importance of shipping lanes and coordination between the Suez Canal where over 20,000 ships cross the canal annually and the use of New York seaports managed by the Port Commerce. I never met Bill’s family, I attended many memorials with PANYNJ colleagues over the years and and as long time member of the 9-11 Memorial Museum, I told that story to many including family and friends.
The PANYNJ is a great agency to work with and when 9-11 happened, I was lost for a week trying to reach out to my team and wondering if I still had a job. We got paid on time and we restarted services and rebuilt our files, contracts and contacts. I am proud of The Port Authority of NY and NJ and wish the best to all in the bi-state agency including the Aviation Department and Port Commerce. Stay safe and I look forward to visit my former colleagues at 4WTC and at the airports and all those who have since retired when the pandemic is behind us.”
For me, the special remembrance is of a program we created to help small and mid-sized companies in the region increase their international sales. XPORT was the first Public Export Trading Company created by a government agency.
I was proud to serve as XPORT’s director from its founding in 1982. XPORT provided comprehensive, expert assistance to local firms with export potential, concentrating on six product groups that reflected manufacturing strengths in the New York-New Jersey region. Staff offered hands-on expertise in export sales development. As a designated branch office of the Export-Import bank of the US (Eximbank), XPORT screened companies for financial assistance and helped them prepare applications. The program generated more than $ 100 Million in export sales by local small businesses in its first eight years of operation.
XPORT earned the Port Authority national recognition from Harvard University with the "Innovation Award” including a $100,000 prize. The United States Department of Commerce also saluted XPORT with the "E" or export award. I was privileged to join Port Authority Chairman Philip Kaltenbacher when he accepted the award from President Ronald Reagan in a Rose Garden ceremony on April 30, 1986.
HALCYON DAYS - My career began as a “Pool Girl” -- a secretary in training who would fill in as needed until offered a permanent slot. I was interviewed by a woman, began working for a woman, and saw that many top-level positions were filled by women, so career ascension seemed natural. I was in the Personnel Department—a relaxed atmosphere, and a nurturing one as well. There was no air conditioning in the PAB, people smoked throughout the day, and everyone dressed well.
Soon I was promoted to Manager’s secretary at the Bus Terminal. By then, I had enrolled at NYU and completed all the evening courses possible, so it was necessary to reverse my routine by working nights and attending classes during the day. The Port Authority not only paid for most of my tuition but worked with me to find the solution: working in the basement as an Information Agent.
After graduation, my first position was in the Special Services Division, where I presented lunchtime programs for employees, escorted dignitaries around the WTC (one of which gave me a chance to work in London’s House of Commons for a summer) and organized ceremonies large and small, including the Annual Medal Awards Ceremony. I was asked to create and manage a few projects to celebrate the 65th anniversary: a calendar dedicated to the history of the PA was a highlight and earned me a national award, as did the Birthday Party which was held on April 30. Cake was available to every employee that day, on all shifts, in all locations--even London and Tokyo! We also replicated a Veteran’s Plaque that had been in the PAB—I told my team that long after we were gone, that plaque would still be on the 44th floor of the WTC. Little did I imagine. . .
After 20 years, I left to test my talents in the private sector. While I did many things between my departure and retirement—for which my PA experience prepared me well--nothing was as fulfilling as the work I did there. My experiences were so varied, from working at the top of the WTC to the bowels of the Bus Terminal, I loved it all. I never again experienced that sense of pride and commitment I had at the Port Authority. Even now, when I hear mention of it, I perk up, as if I were still part of it all. When the WTC collapsed, I told my son, as we watched debris being taken up the West Side Highway, that I had helped build that building, however minor my contribution might have been. He quickly replied that the building had indeed built me, and my career.
Business virtues learned from superiors--who were all sterling--served me well in life. I’ll always be proud to have been part of the premier public agency in the country. I’m honored to be part of this anniversary, just as I was celebrating the 65th anniversary, half my life ago.
One particular memory stands out from the 35 years spent mostly with the Engineering Department in the Architectural Group. It involves a certain very special bridge. Actually two bridges.
Our offices were on the 72nd floor in the North Twin Tower. Since being trained in visual design and Graphics, my Unit, Graphic Design, supported the architects in a variety of ways: creating presentation materials for new Facilities, designing signs and way finding, crafting façade design and color selections. Because the architects inhabited a minority population in a sea of engineers, we endured a fair amount of professional ribbing, from the engineers, but also, the chance to do interesting projects.
At some point a bridge, sign frame, truss or façade had to have not just a specialized material chosen, but a color selection assigned to it. Consequently, one of the taunts that the Chief Architect, Shelly Wander, often had to endure was, “Hey Mr. Architect, what’s the color of the week?” In my experience, going back to Art School, “color,” though I loved, was something most architects were terrified of Black, white, gray, maybe, but color, yikes!
One day a project came along: it was repainting the Outerbridge Crossing. The bridge sported a chalking, fading, rusting dirty pale blue, like old pajamas. It was determined that a durable olethatic urethane would be used with red zinc undercoating in the refurbishment.
I was given the assignment to color study this fraught project. All manner of folks were watching the progress. We had to have a solid presentation. Permission was granted and Gil Dillon gave the word that aerial photography was needed to show the Line Department our schemes clearly over shots of the actual bridge. Principal Architect Bob Davidson’s response when I told him I would be with the photo team in a PA helicopter was, ”You’re on your own, Robert.”
My inclination was to go classic. In the archives we found that all Port Authority of New York Facilities were at one time painted metallic “Silver bright”, a color that did not exist in urethane. But there was a lovely, light, warm gray called “Pewter Cup.” Presentation boards were produced, color accepted, bridge painted, and looked striking in the landscape for a good while.
A few years later when it was time to repaint the George, it was easy: “Let’s go with what we used on the Outerbridge.”
And that’s how I came to choose the color of the George Washington Bridge.
I was telling the story to my niece one day, while driving over. “Oh yeah,” she said, “Battleship Gray”
Beginning with his employment with the Port Authority of New York in 1947 (that was the name then!) until his retirement in 1981, C.B. Pat Pattarini experienced Modern Aviation's "story." Pat began as a Jr. Engineer in the Engineering Department, John Kyle Chief Engineer, which soon spun off into the new Aviation Department, which then included LaGuardia Airport and Newark, NJ Airport.
At the end of WWII, there was increased activity in overseas travel. Steamships had been the only transportation to Europe and beyond. They were the Rulers of the Seas in luxurious fashion for many decades. But shorter traveling time was needed by businessmen who were "rebuilding the world." Post-War, planes that had been gigantic bombers were being transfigured as passenger planes which could cross the Atlantic with fuel stops in Newfoundland and Shannon, Ireland. LaGuardia did not have long enough runways for those big planes, and, being surrounded by water, the existing runways could not be extended. So Idlewild Golf Course on the southern shores of Queens was made into New York International Airport with Quonset huts for a Terminal.
It was very crowded, with passengers and all those welcoming them very uncomfortable. The Engineering Department-then Aviation Department had to make it work while at the same time they created the concept and design which developed into a bigger/better New York International Airport, nicknamed Idlewild. At its grand dedication in 1957, Austin Tobin was Executive Director. Matt Lukens was Deputy Executive Director. John Kyle was Director of Engineering, The Director of Aviation was Mr. Koch, then John Wylie.
The PA’s Public Relations Director was Lee Jaffe, who always carried a tiny dog in her arms and strong-armed the press as she saw fit. It was a front-page story around the world. And news media carried stories daily, with photos of who was catching a plane or just arriving from European or South American shores. It became quite sensational, with Hollywood stars taking the spotlight. This newest of the PA’s facilities became the prototype of Post-WWII modern airports and welcomed “visiting firemen” from around the world, to inspect and go home with ideas for “one of their own.” Visitors includes the British Queen Mother (who was even given a coveted private tour of the tower by the FAA chief). Other British royalty includes Princess Margaret and her husband Lord Snowdon and Prince Phillip with his daughter Princess Anne.
Administration of this gigantic airport was restructured and Pat become its first General Manager with four Managers: Don Foley (Avionics), Morris Sloan (Terminals and Roads), and two others for finance and public relations. Following the assassination of the President in 1963, the powers that be in New York City willed that the airport be renamed to memorialize John F. Kennedy.
Roman Catholics who worked at the airport had convinced the Port Authority that they needed a place to worship close by and their red-brick “Lady of the Skies” Chapel early on found a place next to the Quonset huts, so when the new, modern airport was designed, there was a central place for that chapel as well as a Jewish synagogue and a Protestant chapel. The three chapels faced lagoons with the centerpiece being a huge fountain dancing with colored lights. The inspiration for the water extravaganza had been found when John Wiley and Tom Sullivan of the Aviation department were sent to Versailles in Paris to inspect its foundations. From the central area of fountains, lagoons and chapels there was a gradually elevated half-circle walkway leading over to the main roadway into a second-floor main atrium to the International Arrivals Building – the IAB.
It had been in the mind of the designers to build such a magnificent airport that the people of New York would want to spend time drinking it all in. So, on the passengers’ gate side of the huge terminal there were outdoor balconies on the second level, for the visitors to watch the planes take off, land, and taxi into the gate area.
(in the Sixties, this balcony was jammed with fans screaming for the Beatles, causing injuries and mayhem for the management!).
Behind the outdoor balcony were floor-to-ceiling windows where, in this part of the IAB, was a four-star restaurant named, “The Golden Door.” Tony Narden was its maître d’. It was so named, borrowing from the last line of Emma Lazarus’s Statue of Liberty poem, which was repeated in the Grand Lobby of the IAB. It was engraved on the back of the staircase, a place where arriving passengers would see it first, after they cleared immigration and Customs.
Hanging from the high-domed ceiling of the IAB was a huge, colorful, ever-so-slowly twisting Alexander Calder mobile. Flags from all the nations circled above the balcony where church choirs and other musical groups were invited to provide music welcoming the arrivals during the Christmas season. At that time a gigantic wreath hung in the half-circle, 3-4 story window, with a Menorah nearby. This original central design was inspired by the very early Newark Airport’s Newarker Restaurant which, over the years had been renowned as a favorite place for neighbors to gather. But post-war aviation swiftly grew to be so huge that, in time, all the central attraction of “Terminal City” was removed so that flyers could have that space for parking. Airports were not for lounging, but to get in and out of.
On April 8, 1983, the three-year anniversary of the start of my career as a Port Authority Police Officer, I noticed while on a screening post a X-ray screen displaying what appeared to be US Currency. I stopped and questioned the individual and when asked if the money was his, he stated, NO Officer, it’s YOUR money! I called my supervisor and we returned the individual to the Police Desk at JFK for further investigation.
The individual had stated at the gate that there was $50k in the package, however after counting, we discovered the sum was $476k dollars. The person and money were turned over to the DEA and I later learned that he was the son of the head of an Organized Crime Syndicate in Florida. The money was receipts from illegal gambling in NY and was being flown to Florida to purchase cocaine which is then shipped back to NY. I was later called to testify at the President’s Commission on Organized Crime in Washington DC.
On Tuesday October 27, 1981, I attended the 1445 roll call. There were two FBI agents in attendance and they shared info on a man they were looking for who was allegedly going to try to hijack an aircraft. The description was a Black Male wearing an Army fatigue jacket, jeans and brown penny loafers. While covering Post 56-1 United Airlines Screening Point around 230 pm I observed a person matching that description enter the men’s bathrooms in front of my post. I called for backup, Officer Jablow responded, and we arrested the individual who had a Molotov cocktail and lots of matches and lighters in his possession.
It was 1959, I was 19 years old fresh out of business school. I was a Moran then and had two brothers working for Mother PONYA. My brothers encouraged me to get a job at the PA. So, off I went on the Bronx #2 train to 111 Eighth Avenue. A trip that ended in me working for an iconic agency whose Executive Director Austin J. Tobin was a legend in his time. It was a continuation of a family tradition started in the late 1940’s when my brother became a PA Police Officer.
I worked at 111 for George Melinette in the Real Estate Department. When I married in 1963 and became pregnant, I left the job I loved to become a full-time Mom. The years passed but I always kept in touch with my PA family.
In 1969, my husband became the first Percival to join the PA. Bobby (“Percy” “Popeye”) worked as a PO at LGA until February 1994 when he retired. You can see “Percy” carved in the cement outside of Post 21-- his favorite.
In 1981, I decided it was time to go home. Once again, I took the #2 train but this time, I went to 1WTC and surprisingly after 18 years, I was hired again. Rita Dubrow asked me if I would like my old ID #04581 and I said yes. So, here I was 41 years old with an employee number beginning in 0!! Need I say, how many awkward moments that created when promotion lists came out and people said “poor thing” took her forever to pass.
I interviewed with Allegra Opoulos at the PABT and was hired as her secretary. The beginning of my second time around. This time it lasted 24+ years. The best years of my life because I made a PA family whom I love as if they were my blood family. The fun times and camaraderie could not be counted. But, let me ask you “old timers” -- Do you remember the “Blues Brothers” and the party at the Pier? If so, you know the best times.
Sadly, in 1998 after a short retirement, my husband Bobby passed away. There is a beautiful stone memorial outside the PO Station at LGA with a plaque inscribed with a poem to “Popeye”. By that time, our three sons had joined the PA family.
I retired in 2005 in the position at the PABT held by Allegra Opoulos Lockett when she hired me in 1981. Of that, I am very proud.
For over 70 of the PA’s 100 years, there has been a member of my family employed by the PA. There are two left. Our oldest son Robert (“Percy Jr”) retired in 2015 from LGA as did his Dad. Our other sons have enjoyed wonderful careers and there are years left for our youngest John, a PATH Engineer. Michael is a Manager in Treasury. If there are no more, we certainly will have had a great run.
“If You're Going to Collect Tolls – Do it in Uniform” - While Manager of the GWB in the late 1980’s, I learned one of the most lasting management lessons I ever received from a Toll Collector. I always felt it important as a manager to try hard to understand the jobs performed by staff and make sure that they knew that I was trying to do so.
To that end, I decided it was important for me to get out into the toll lanes and collect cash tolls. I had heard many times from the Collectors that management didn’t understand what they went through every day taking money directly from the traveling public. The Collectors had been constantly complaining to their supervisor and to me that they were being very poorly mistreated by those paying tolls since they were the only contact the public had to show their disdain for having to pay those tolls. This was particularly true soon after a toll increase since in those “pre-EZPass” days since the Collectors were the only Port Authority employees they came in contact with.
So during a mid-week rush hour, I collected a Toll Bank from a Toll Supervisor so I would have funds to make change and headed out to a “bullet” lane which was called by that name because it was so active. I steeled myself for the kinds of negativity the Collectors had been supposedly receiving from our customers as well as for the likelihood that I was going to make mistakes collecting the tolls and making change.
Everything went incredibly well. The customers were polite and the Toll Collector looking over my shoulder was impressed at how few mistakes I was making. After two hours of collecting, I commented to the Collector in the booth with me that the customers seemed polite and respectful and I didn’t see the negative factors that all had been telling me about, Her response was priceless and so instructive:
Of course, they were all polite to you! You are wearing a suit and tie and the customers all figure that you must be a boss. Next time you come out to collect, do so on a Toll Collector’s uniform.
So I did. And it definitely was a different experience the next time when I did not feel that the customers had respect for me as a person and treated me quite differently than when I was dressed in a business suit. What an incredibly instructive situation where I learned that while it’s great to really try and understand what staff is concerned with and they are experiencing, you have to be sure to do it “in their shoes”-- and NOT in your own suit and tie!
Reflecting back…. One of the big advantages for technical and middle management employees at the PA is exposure to diverse work experiences. The PA encourages its employees to move upward in a variety of assignments in different departments and even within departments. The practice is advantageous to the employee as they learn more about the comprehensive mission of the agency’s businesses while providing greater opportunity for personal and professional advancement.
For the PA corporate, it provides a more knowledgeable staff and opportunity to fit employees showing promise into slots best adapted to their skills. I personally benefited from this PA policy by serving in Aviation, Planning and Development and then Interstate Transportation Departments, for folks like Larry Schaefer, Martin Robins, Rich Roberts, Lee Goodman, and retiring (1996) from the Office of Ferry Transportation as deputy to its director George Cancro.
There is an additional advantage to this diversity of work experience. You get to meet your counterparts in other departments and even outside the PA organization as you work cooperatively on joint projects. The PA being a bi-state agency broadens the scope of these professional relationships. These contacts often mature into friendships and post-retirement working relationships in professional and avocational pursuits.
One of these acquaintances resulted in significant historic preservation accomplishments and a joint scholarship initiative. I had worked with John Wilkins of NJ Transit on XBL and other cooperative bus initiatives. Outside our respective employment obligations, we both chaired rail transit committees at the Transportation Research Board of the National Academies. John and I with others established a Transportation Heritage Center for New Jersey charged with managing the State’s historic rail and bus collection. John and I along with a former Freeholder Director started the vintage bus collection by buying the Heritage Center’s first vintage bus. The collection has now grown to 40 historic motor buses representing seven decades of bus transportation in NJ (and NY also, thanks to those buses having used our Trans-Hudson crossings). It can be viewed Saturdays at Lakewood bus terminal or on line http://www.friendsnjthc.org
There’s more; Wilkins and I just co-authored a 170-page hard cover book on NJ Transit’s predecessor Public Service Coordinated Transport (PS) and its All-Service Vehicle (ASV), a hybrid gas-electric trolleybus before its time. Unique to New Jersey, it was produced to replace streetcars with nearly 600 ASVs capable of mimicking a trolleybus. With its trolley poles down, it could operate independently of dual overhead trolley wire. See cover page and book flyer.
Here’s the connection with the PA and a surprising new Trans Hudson revelation for the PA 100th Anniversary.
These ASVs were sometimes deployed for local charter services, including trips to the 1939 World’s Fair, Coney Island and other attractions crossing the river. During research for our book, we found a photo of a row of PS ASVs at the Flushing Meadow Fair’s bus lot. They had gotten there, trolley poles down, in the gasoline propulsion mode, using one or more of our Hudson River crossings! Imagine a trolleybus going over the GWB or through the Holland or Lincoln Tunnels! We now know it happened, but have no photographic evidence of that startling sight. Are there any such photos in the PA’s photo archive?
My name is Santo Piro. I was an Electrician with the PA for 37 years. I was honorably discharged from the U.S. Navy (1952-1956 Korean War) as an Electrician Mate 3'" class. My brother Peter Piro was an Electrician for the Port Authority. He retired as an Electrical Supervisor from LGA.
My career started July 9, 1956 at 118" Ave working 4-12pm. When I became permanent, I was transferred to the Bus Terminal. I worked around the clock. There were times we roped off the area because the "Mad Bomber” was around. I stayed about two years while I went to school at night. I transferred to JFK as a laborer working with MMII. When the snow came everyone's hours changed. I was a wing man.
I became an Electrician's helper CMS and then an Electrician. I stayed approximately 18 years. I worked at different facilities: 36th St. Heliport installing new lights, the Holland Tunnel, and Lincoln Tunnel Vent Building NY & NJ working days and nights installing new switch gear. I worked the police train. I worked on the GW Bridge necklace lighting, the toll booths on a computer tag and rewiring the firehouse. The Hoboken pier installing overhead lights. After the strike I was transferred to JFK. I worked around the clock for five years. I was working nights during the Lufthansa Heist. I worked days maintaining all the taxiway and runway lights and circuits. Switch house to tower control. In February 1993, I towed the generators to the World Trade Center after the bombing.
I received an invitation to the World Trade Tower 1 in July 4, 1986 to view the tall ships for Liberty Weekend from the 55" Floor. My family really enjoyed that.
I retired on April 10, 1993. On September 11th I was sad to see the WTC go down. Friends I knew were lost.
My career with the Port Authority was very educational and exceptionally rewarding. I received many letters of congratulations. I found that all the supervisors, managers, stock keepers and clerks were outstanding.
Let's hope this virus will go away so we can enjoy time with our families.
World Trade Center Operations - Most Port Authority employees will remember some special moments at the World Trade Center even if they did not work there. A visit to the Observation Deck or Windows On The World always thrilled our out-of-town guests. Remember watching the Tall Ships Parade or July 4th fireworks from our offices? How about the top-notch entertainment on the Plaza every Summer?
I spent much of my career working at the Trade Center. Starting as a Junior Operations Analyst in 1970 I helped set up operations and maintenance procedures as the towers rose. Then, decades later on 9/11, when we lost our beloved coworkers and those towers, I was Assistant Chief Technology overseeing the installation of sophisticated building control and security system upgrades. Most remarkable for me were the years 1985 through 1992 when I served as Operations Manager and then General Manager of the complex.
The Landmark facility was unique in many ways. We were in direct competition with the private sector. As the World Financial Center and other first-class buildings sprung up around us we had to be creative, inventive and always open to new ideas. 275 tenants such as Fuji Bank, Dean Witter Reynolds, and the Commodities Exchange Center demanded first class services, and we did our best to provide them.
Almost 2,000 HVAC watch engineers, electricians, painters, window washers, security guards, cleaners and elevator technicians worked around the clock to “keep the lights on.” All of this work was overseen by the finest team of PA facility supervisors, administrators and managers, some of whom gave their lives in service to our tenants and each other. They were aided by other specialists from the WTC Construction and Planning Divisions as well as Port Authority Procurement, Risk Management, Law, Finance, and Human Resources.
Perhaps the finest display of teamwork was during the months that many of us worked with the Executive Director on 12-to-14 hour days to reopen the towers after the tragic bombing of February 26, 1993. An extraordinary team of specialists was pulled together overnight from within and outside the Agency to assess the damage, muster the resources to make massive repairs, clean every square inch and help tenants move back in. We did it because it was our job and we did it for our co-workers Bob Kirkpatrick, Monica Rodriguez and her unborn child, Steve Knapp, and Bill Macko whom we lost on the tragic day.
Tens of thousands of visitors a day also relied on building services if only to ride an escalator from PATH to walk through NY City's largest underground mall on their way to work on Wall Street. Others used a bank or restaurant. Then there were those special visitors. Our PA Police regularly protected visitors like Nelson Mandela, Reverend Desmond Tutu, Henry Kissinger, President Salinas of Mexico, and many more.
It was an honor to work with this incredible team for the better part of three decades.
When I worked as a Financial Analyst in the former Department of Economic Development, I remember briefing Phil LaRocco. I think we were discussing the feasibility of establishing a regional venture capital fund. Phil’s remark always stayed with me because it made me think that it is always good to have passion when you are working on a project. Phil said, “Bill, don’t confuse me with facts.” With his support and that of Barry Weintrob, the PA did establish a $10 Million Venture Capital Fund, which was closed when Steven Berger became Executive Director.
In 1989, I left the Port Authority to work at the New York City Board of Education. Four years later I was returning from work in Queens when I ran into Cherrie Nanninga on the 23rd street stop on Eighth Avenue on the E line. She asked me, “Where are you now?” I told her I was working at the NYC Board of Education in their Capital Program. She said, “I was talking to Debbie Schneekloth about you.” Then Cherrie said,” we could use your skills at the Port Authority.” That was a Friday and on the following Monday I called her office and that began my return to the Port Authority with interviews with Bill Goldstein, John Collura, Debbie Schneekloth and Michael Massiah. My first task was to revise the infamous Guidebook, formally known as the Capital Project Development and Authorization Process Guidebook.
Any recollection of my life at the Port Authority would not be complete without a reference to September 11. I was on Church Street when the second plane hit. I felt the displaced energy in my feet. I remember being with Ron Pannone and Lillian Valenti. I remember using my Blackberry to contact Ernesto Butcher who was my boss then. I later learned that he was trying to evacuate people at about the same time. The other memory that is still vivid in my mind is reporting to PATC the next day and calling PA staff to confirm whether they were alive.
When the Port Authority’s central office was located at 225 Park Avenue South I used to get teased by Aviation staff, particularly Janet Carlo Montalvo who when I came in after 9:00 AM would say, “What happened Bill, did you get a couple of traffic lights that delayed you?” Since I lived on West 20th street my walk to the office could be delayed a few minutes depending on whether I got green lights or when I crossed the avenues. Eventually, other Aviation staff people caught on to the tease and I would hear it every so often whenever the subject of commuting to 225 Park Avenue South came up.
Now that I am retired I still interact with former Port Authority staff. One of my volunteer activities is to serve on the advisory board of Christ the King School in the Bronx. Just before the COVID 19 pandemic I was working with Alan Hicks and Wil Chabrier to organize a class to teach judo to kids at the school. Wil Chabrier conducted an introduction into Judo for the kids. The school has also enjoyed the support of Peter Zipf, who used his contacts at Manhattan College to recruit students to discuss engineering careers with 6th to 8th grade children. Bill Fife, through his contacts with the Young Members Forum of the American Society of Civil Engineers recruited professional engineers to organize a Career Orientation Forum for the students in February 2020. In May 2020 I sent out a request for donation for scholarship retention, which was needed to help families pay tuition after many of them had been laid off due to COVID 19. The school received a donation from Donna Tucker and from Mario Suarez, who still works at the agency. It is great to know that the bonds of fellowship we cultivated as Port Authority staff extends into our retirement years.
I began my PA career upon High School graduation at age 18. However, I was not new to the “PA” because my dad worked at 111 8th Ave. and once took me up in one of those huge elevators capable of lifting a fully loaded trailer AND tractor to many upper floors for unloading at various tenants’ truck docks. I became an employee in 1954 as a messenger and worked up the ladder, capping off my career as a Construction Safety Inspector at the WTC.
During my early years, while assigned to the Aviation Department as a Clerical Aide, one of my assignments was to fill in for the Department Director, Mr. John Wiley’s chauffeur when he was absent. Here I was, very young and impressionable, tasked with driving one of the top executives around in MANHATTAN! One day I received word that the Director wanted me to take him to his midtown train station. It was evening rush hour when Mr. Wiley met me at the (111 8th Ave) garage he advised me that he was a little late so try to get him to his midtown train station quickly. I knew the best route would be to go via Park Avenue. In those days, Park Avenue traffic lights only had two colors: red and green. While driving a little rapidly, the light turned red and I had to make, let’s say, an abrupt stop. I did so and hearing a “thump”, looked in the review mirror and no Mr. Wiley! A few seconds later I saw him extracting himself from the car floor and resuming his seat. My apology was graciously accepted with the words, “No problem, you were only trying to get me there in time.” Hellofaguy that Mr. Wiley!!!
One of my interesting memories (for me) occurred at the street level WTC when I spotted a welder spewing sparks, many of which were endangering scores of commuters passing through the area. As I rushed toward the welder, a guy in a camel-hair overcoat began to enter my path and I yelled, “Pardon me” and kind of pushed him aside. I immediately put a stop to the welding operation until adequate protection was provided for the commuters. Very shortly after the incident, I learned the guy in the camel-hair coat was the head of the OSHA office in downtown NYC!
Another incident occurred while working at the WTC Tower B safety office. Notice was made on the PA radio that a scaffold on Tower A had fallen. I ran to our window and saw the scaffold had indeed fallen on one end but still held securely at the other end with two men literally hanging-on for dear life! You should have witnessed the panic by those wanting to make a quick rescue. At that stage of construction there was a little problem. ALL windows in the working area location had been permanently sealed shut and could not be opened. The scaffold personnel had to hang on while the window contractor’s personnel were located and responded to un-seal and remove a window so the “victims” could be rescued. I’m sure it felt like an eternity to them but I was really glad I didn’t have to do their laundry!!!
Happy 100th Anniversary Mother PONYA!
Many of us remember that affectionate nickname for the agency before it was renamed in 1972 to reflect the regional partnership of the two states. In a pre-pandemic world, I’m sure celebrations would be taking place throughout the region to commemorate this once-in-a-lifetime anniversary. Bells! Whistles! Fireworks!
I arrived at the P.A. in 1969 after bouncing around in various lower Manhattan law firms. Young and restless, I did not hesitate to change jobs if I grew bored and/or was looking for new challenges; I didn’t think I would be with the agency beyond five years. Thirty-two years later, I realized that the reason I remained as long as I did is because of the Port Authority’s unique status as a result of the pact that was signed in 1921. This unique agency not only operates and carries out its mission in two states, but it does so across multiple industries -- each with its own set of standards, practices and disciplines. Bored I was not. And the new challenges did come -- all under the umbrella of one, unique organization. As I carved out a career in communications, public relations and events planning, the new challenges allowed me to grow professionally.
Sometimes the new challenges sent me to a new department that carried out its functions in an industry different from the industry of the department I had just left. These were great opportunities to learn new things and new ways of thinking about some things. For example, my problem-solving and project management skills were enhanced when I worked with engineers on various projects. I got to know the public relations and event-planning industries when I was in the Special Services Division (General Services Department). There, and in other departments -- Port, World Trade, Priority Capital Programs -- much of my work involved working with executive staff who communicated and collaborated with multiple stakeholders in multiple industries that sometimes had different business goals and objectives. I learned the art of debating an issue from all sides from those experiences.
In doing research for writing projects, I also learned what was forecast for the future: rapid societal, cultural and technological change, including the emergence of Artificial Intelligence, and how we would one day become a cashless society. These are the times we’re living in today. Remembering the past, however, I say thank you Port Authority for providing me with a well-rounded career and a wide range of professional experiences. Happy Anniversary!
“Swedish Mahogany” - So maybe you are thinking this is about some kind of wood from Sweden. Well, you are half right. Swedish Mahogany is a type of granite stone found in Sweden that was used to construct the Holland Tunnel lettered façade on the New Jersey toll plaza canopy structure. Now you think, I know where it came from, Sweden. Well, again you would be half right. The pieces of stone that form this façade were actually fabricated in Italy.
I was the Engineering Manager for the Tunnels, Bridges and Terminals (TBT) unit in the Engineering Department in 1990 when we implemented a project to replace and upgrade the Holland Tunnel Toll Plaza. Today’s cashless tolling and the supporting technology was a distant dream back then and we needed to provide a better facility for our toll collectors as well as improve the layout and capacity of our tolling facility.
Peter Antippas was our Engineering Project Manager who led a team of talented in-house engineers and architects, who working closely with the planning and operations staff in the TBT Line Department, undertook this project. At that time, the planning, design and construction supervision, for the majority of the agency’s projects, was still being done by Port Authority staff. It was one of the things that, as a newly minted engineer, attracted me to work for the PA – the ability to actually work on a vast array of technically challenging and meaningful projects.
One of the challenges of this project, and there were many, was how to take something as mundane as a tolling facility and not only make it functional but also attractive. The main function of the canopy structure was to provide weather protection, and safe overhead access for personnel to and from the toll booths and the adjacent toll building, without having to cross active traffic, as well as housing the mechanical and electrical equipment needed to support the toll plaza operations. In trying to add some form to that function, our team of architects, led by then senior architect Gil Dillon, came up with the design for using an attractive natural stone cladding and integrating signage that would identify the facility to the motorists that use the Holland Tunnel. That stone was Swedish Mahogany, chosen not only for its esthetic qualities but also for its durability and low maintenance, attested by the fact that it looks as good today as it did some 30 years ago when it was first installed.
To fabricate and undertake the somewhat unique and difficult lettering of such a large stone façade, the contractor hired to construct the project, turned to the skilled artisans in Verona, Italy, where there is a long history of working with stone. The full-size lettering stencils produced by Gil and his team were sent to Italy, where they were laid out on the factory floor and used as a template to guide the cutting and fabrication process. The pieces of stone, 2 inches thick, varying in size from 3 feet by 10 feet to 10 feet by 12 feet, were then numbered and shipped to the plaza. Once there, Rich Raczynski, our construction manager, and his team, including Keri Pastore, one of our early-on women construction inspectors, oversaw the assembly and installation, resulting in the beautiful, finished product you see today.
So now, the next time you whiz through the most recent version of the Holland Tunnel Toll Plaza, you might glance up and think-- Swedish Mahogany. And maybe, in this 100th year of the Port Authority, you might also think about the dedicated and talented people of the agency, both past and present, that build, maintain, and operate these vital regional facilities.
One of my more interesting job experiences was working at the BROOKLYN PIERS NYMT. What a great staff - from the management on down (operations, police, maintenance). There was a family feel to it -- they even had a pet cat.
The facility is located on Columbia St. in Brooklyn. At that time (1980’s), it was already starting to become a ghost town with containerization taking over as a preferred method for shipping and most of the ships going to NJMT (Port Newark).
Some of the other locations under the facility’s jurisdiction included the Passenger Ship Terminal, Pier 40 on the west side of Manhattan, the Grain Elevator, the Fish Port, Civil War piers, Erie Basin, and Howland Hook in Staten Island.
The boat’s main use was for sounding surveys, under-deck inspections and fender inspections. Sometimes we would assist plumbers and electricians repairing damaged piping under the deck.
The left photo is of me standing on the first boat I worked and was trained on. To the left, also wearing the green maintenance uniform, is coworker and mate Aaron Cupperson. The boat was being lifted out of the water for maintenance by Kosnac’s crane, a tenant with whom we shared the berth on Pier 5.
The right photo was taken at Kingsborough College where we took a boating safety course. Left to right Dave Giordano, Steve Quinn, Joe Lind, Louis Reyes,Carl Rappa and me. We were at the pool in the Gumby suits practicing the ‘abandon ship’ drill.
Airs Above The Ground - August 7, 1974 was one of those foggy New York mornings, heavy with mist that spread slick dampness over every surface. Not rain. But certainly not clear. And worth your life or your limb if you took just the wrong step at the wrong time.
It made you wonder, as you squinted up at the tiny figure dancing across the thread of wire strung between the North and South Towers of the World Trade Center -- how a man could even contemplate the stunt, much less execute it.
As a Public Affairs staffer subbing at the Information Desk that summer, I fielded telephone inquiries from press and other media all across the country. As word spread about the wild stunt taking place 1,350 feet above plaza and street, people asked the same questions we had: San Francisco morning radio hosts wanted to know -- who was this daredevil (Philippe Petit, we would later learn), Wichita news, New Orleans radio, Richmond media staff -- everyone asked: Did he have help? (most assuredly -- just not from us), Had the PA arranged for it or participated in it? (heavens, no! No one rational and in charge would have sought such outrageous publicity)? How did he get up there (Well, with construction on the South Tower wrapping up, there were still hoards of hard-hatted steel workers everywhere (who would distinguish one more?)? Would he be arrested? Yes, when he returned to the safety of solid ground (No one was capable of or willing to venture out there after him).
Later, when he was in custody, having fulfilled his dream, he spoke openly about this stunt being a years-long goal of his. He told us much, well satisfied with the achievement that put himself and, briefly, the P.A. into the front pages of the news. But it was an "unusual" day in the agency's history for certain.
To judge the colossal nature of Philippe Petit's escapade, go to You Tube to search out the 2015 movie, "The Walk." It will likely awe and astonish you. It did me, and I was there that day.
I worked in PA-QAD from 1996 to 2010. In that period, I was assigned to various emergency calls from PA facilities. Everyone in PA worked proudly as one family.
I remember the September 11, 2001 WTC terrorist attack that made a profound impact on our mind. At that time our QAD office was relocated at Holland Tunnel in NJ. We in the QAD group were watching the event on a small TV in a conference room and saw smoke pouring out at the top of Tower.
I was assigned with my colleague to go to WTC. When I arrived at Holland Tunnel NJ toll plaza I was told that only firefighters and ambulances were allowed to go to NY. Others turned back by NY City police. So I drove to Hoboken PATH Station but it was shut down.
Meanwhile NY City had taken full charge of WTC to handle such building fires. PA Engineering set up a Command Center at PA Journal Square facility to respond to inquiries from WTC site. I represented QAD between 7:00 pm that day until relieved at 9:00 am next day. I remember there was an inquiry about the section of ground level slab that was intact and a NY City contractor wanted to move a crane on that slab. I did not agree, because that slab was not designed for such a heavy load. Many inquiries from the WTC site were swiftly answered. Meanwhile that evening NJ Governor with his police squad visited the Command Center and assured us of his full support.
Next day I started driving back home. I noticed that traffic on NJ Turnpike was more or less jammed. But the fast lane on left was moving at 15 mph. I saw emergency vehicles from as far away as southern states were heading to WTC. They must be driving all night. They knew the shortage of emergency people in such an enormous tragedy. Response across the whole nation was overwhelming.
We should never forget the people lost in the WTC attack. God bless the USA
I worked for the Port Authority from 1961 to 1997. In that time it has been my greatest privilege to work with and for some of the most talented people the Port Authority has ever had. I started as a clerk and had to get three promotions to make mail boy. I then took a test for Auto Mechanic and Electrician, I came out #1 for automotive and #2 for electrical. At that time in my life, I knew how to rebuild a car engine but knew nothing about electrical. As luck would have it I was offered an electrical apprentice position first so I accepted it. This was the best choice I could have made because it led me to a life I could never have imagined.
As luck would have it, I accepted a position in the Research Division of Tunnels & Bridges Department. Not many people working today know about or ever heard of the Research Division of Tunnels & Bridges. I worked for a Manager, Robert Foote, a man who had vision way ahead of his time. Our group notably had had an Electrical Engineer, Carroll White; Ronald Cunningham, Alan Gonseth, Engineers, Harvey Gold and John Callaghan, my supervisor who was another person with vision.
Some of the projects we worked on over the years:
We used photo cells to count cars in the Tunnels; after a few years we then researched and utilized Vehicle Detectors that use wire loops imbedded in the roadway to count cars. Using computers, we could tell the length and speed of vehicles in the roadway. The previous sentence sounds like -- what’s the big deal? Well let me explain: to utilize photo cells we bought actual surplus Army gun sights used in WWII and embedded the cells at the focal point of the gun sights using light in reverse direction to magnify the light on the cells surface. We then drilled holes in the tunnel roadway and built a holder for the gun sights in the lower ducts of the tunnel. This was the technology of the day.
We then heard about vehicle detectors and tested every one that was on the market at the time. We then wrote the specifications of the detectors we needed and put out a bid to get the detectors used today.
By the way I worked nights for years, first drilling holes every 500 feet in the tunnel roadways for the photo cells then using diamond wheel cutters to cut lines in the roadway to lay 4’ x 6’ wire loops every 500 feet and using the holes drilled for the photo cells to bring the wires to the lower ducts to these new vehicle detectors.
As part of this overall job we pulled a 100-pair cable through tunnel conduits in the side walls all the way to the Administration Buildings where we had three mini computers. We tapped into the Red/Green/Yellow lights of the tunnel ceilings and the vehicle detectors information to bring this information to the Administration Buildings for the computers. We designed the interface to the computers ourselves (this was not something you could buy).
We designed information panels and installed monitors from the tunnel roadways and installed three HP mini computers in the Administration Building. Two computers worked in tandem to notify the desk of possible stoppages in the tunnel roadway.
I built a small microcomputer below Lane 10 at the Lincoln Tunnel too. I built a light panel in the lane with buttons for the toll collectors to use in collecting tolls. The information from the buttons was processed by my microcomputer and sent to the HP mini-computer at the Administration Building across the street. This research was ultimately used for the new toll system used by the Port Authority.
Coming back to ceiling lights, over-height trucks were constantly knocking them down, so my supervisor who had worked at the airports got some runway lights used on the active runways and theorized-- why not use them on the ceilings? -- so we drilled a hole big enough to hold them and put a spring on the top so if they were hit they would go up then back down. So, again we worked nights to drill holes in the ceilings working on top of a special truck created by the Port Authority to change ceiling lights. We only did two light stations to prove the concept then SEMAC got the contract to do the whole tunnel.
Something you may not know when we worked in the tunnels many years ago, the PA used to wash the tunnel walls by hand; they would send in a crew of maintenance workers to scrub the walls with brooms.
The project I really liked was putting a leaky cable on the Tunnel walls (A leaky cable is a coaxial cable that has small sections of its copper shielding stripped away to allow radio frequency (RF) signals to escape.)
We would then use a special carrier wave to transmit all the frequencies of local radio stations into this cable, which would leak into the roadway. This is why you can listen to your radio in our tunnels. As part of this project, I went to every tall building near the entrance and exit of the Lincoln Tunnel and measured the power levels of every radio station so that no one could complain about their station not being heard.
At the request of Bob Kelly, I did a short stint at TRANSCOM and tested slow scan TV images from a moving remote vehicle to the large screen at TRANSCOM. You have to realize this was before the advent of Cell Phones so this technology did not exist before.
I went on learn more about Slow Scan TV and set up a command room at the TB&T conference room with Slow Scan TV images over telephone dial-up from each facility. I helped in the design and creation of two of the most technology advanced conference rooms for the PORT Department.
I became the Network Administrator in charge of all Computers, first for TB&T and then for the PORT Department. I have to say the Port Authority allowed me to use all of my talents to my fullest.
One of the best decisions I ever made was to start work at 111 8th Ave.
My greatest honor was to receive the Robert F. Wagner Distinguished Service Medal for my work in information technology, video and electronics. See Below:
“Man on Wire” - On the morning of August 7, 1974, I was the first person to arrive at the Public Affairs Department office on the 68th Floor of One World Trade Center. Usually, my first responsibility of the day was to call the Central Police Desk to find out what had occurred at Port Authority facilities during the night, so that I could provide information to news media.
Something caught my eye and I looked out the window. To my amazement, I saw a figure on a wire 1,350 feet above the ground performing a daring walk between One WTC and Two WTC without a safety net. I called the Police Desk to advise of what I was seeing. They were already aware of what was happening.
Needless to say, my heart was racing. I kept praying that he would not fall, as he was doing some stunts while crossing. I watched his progress for about 45 minutes until he got to the other side and was grabbed by the Port Authority Police.
For the rest of my life, I will never forget the daring and skill of Philippe Petit, a young French stuntman who was aided in this scheme by several accomplices.
He was arrested for disorderly conduct and criminal trespass. Petit escaped prosecution in exchange for a promise to stage a free aerial performance at Central Park, which he did. His daring and skill made to the big screen, in the Oscar-winning 2008 documentary “Man on Wire.”
The thrilling first day of the XBL -- I vividly remember the first thrill in my Port Authority career. Fifty years ago--Friday, December 18, 1970, at about 6:45 am-- I was 24 and alone in the quiet Lincoln Tunnel Manager’s office. The only sound breaking the silence was the facility radio squawking chatter from the Police.
The facility radio suddenly crackled out: “First bus entering XBL.”
Wow! The first bus in the XBL-- the exclusive bus lane-- a lane for buses only going towards the tunnel--reversed and against outbound traffic--was still about ten minutes away from being in sight out the manager’s big windows.
I can still feel the thrill. I relished being alone to hide my tense glee, but scared at the same time: what if an accident happens? I looked out the large window to the “helix” approach roadway bringing traffic down to the toll booths. No buses in sight yet. And the Police radio was ominously silent. I was “flying blind,” wondering if everything was going okay. There were no mobile phones to call anyone.
Then: “First bus passing Palisade Avenue.” Halfway there! Relief, breathe!
This was my first real project … the first time that I had helped plan and design something that was actually happening! The first bus had entered the 2-1/2 mile-long single reversed lane for buses only, to bypass inbound cars and trucks on the other “right” side of the roadway. It would go against traffic on this three-lane road, separated from oncoming traffic by a not-very-formidable combination of yellow plastic posts, double-yellow lane stripes, and overhead red Xs or green down arrows.
I was told that the first bus moved slowly down the lane at 35 mph, closely following a Port Authority police car leading the way with its roof lights blazing. Other buses followed like a line of elephants marching on a narrow path, not poking anything out for fear of getting clipped by oncoming traffic.
After what seemed to be an eternity, the first bus appeared at the top of the helix! I shivered in the quiet--it seemed like it was going in slow motion, crawling down the helix, and around the big turn to the toll booths.
And then it was into the tunnel. I stood transfixed. The first bus on the XBL had made it through. Later I heard later that jubilant passengers on the buses that day had applauded as they passed by the horrific inbound traffic!
The XBL was a huge success from Day One, achieving national recognition for the Port Authority. I am delighted that anyone can still experience it, as the XBL operation is virtually unchanged from that first day fifty years ago, a testament to the Port Authority planners, engineers, PAPD, operations and other staff who made it happen!
Survey Party - When I had been with the PA’s Contracts Division-Law Department a little over four years, I was given the assignment of drafting/reviewing the main contracts for the Bus Terminal Modernization of the mid-Seventies. Among these was the agreement for the foundations for the North Wing, awarded to the DeMatteis organization. After a few months Engineering received reports from the church across 42nd Street and the porn/strip theater close to the northwest 42nd Street and Eighth Avenue corner that blasting by the contractor had caused serious cracks in the buildings. For some unknown reason, my Division Chief and I were asked to meet our construction engineers at the porn theater to “inspect” the claimed damage. We were told that the site had been surveyed before construction started but nevertheless the lawyers needed to do an “inspection”.
So, on a warm and humid late spring morning dressed in a suit and tie and wearing leather-soled loafers, I arrived and was escorted to a low roof which faced 42nd Street. Above loomed a building of several stories with a brick outer wall and a ladder bolted to the brick. The ladder did not have what I recognized as steps, instead it had rounded rungs. It was about 3 feet wide. Visible above were cracks which appeared to have been previously patched/caulked/plastered/grouted. The cracks were about 25 feet above the roof. I was instructed to climb the ladder and “inspect”.
Law school, while offering a course on negligence, had no course on ladder climbing. My two years in the Peace Corps in Peru had prepared me for harrowing bus rides in the Andes, fighting off red ants in the jungle, and various types of amoebic dysentery, but not for this ladder climbing. My prior experience in ladder climbing was a five-foot climb from the tracks at the High Street subway station during the 1965 power blackout where a burly NYC fireman was there to assist. Further I had no experience with blasting cracks. I fearfully climbed the 25 feet, reported that the cracks looked the same close up as they had from the roof, and backed down the ladder about five times more slowly than I had inched upwards.
Later we were told that the PA had repaired the cracks in the church although, it believed that they were pre-existing. I think the porn theater claims were denied. Sometime during the subway ride back to WTC I stopped shaking. But for years whenever my family and I walked from the Bus Terminal to Restaurant Row I focused on Shake Shack and did not gaze upwards.
My name is Frank Spinazzola - I was a Senior Construction Inspector for 33 years (1956-1989). After I retired, my oldest daughter sent her youngest daughter to college for engineering. Now she works for a demolition firm taking down all the buildings I put up (LaGuardia Airport - Central Terminal Building). I keep telling her to knock it off but from the age of 12 she has never done as told.
Having spent most of my 33-year career at the Bus Terminal in midtown, there were many great times to be on duty. The 9th Avenue Food Festival, the 4th of July, even St. Patrick’s Day, were all enjoyable, but nothing could ever compare with the satisfaction of working the overnight shift on New Year's Eve. I loved working New Year's Eve. I often volunteered to work New Year's Eve.
A well-kept secret at the time, the rooftop corner of 42nd Street and 8th Avenue provided an unobstructed view of Times Square, the crowds of revelers below, and just one block east, the grand ball drop. Every year a small group would gather here at midnight to ring in the New Year together. On one occasion, approaching 11:30, management stood in a small circle on the main floor of the North Wing, with their clipboards and radios, holding a briefing on the operation.
Although a mere FM-2 at the time, I stood among the group preparing to take direction, when a frail, elderly, African American woman appeared, toting a small plaid suitcase, asking if someone could help her get a cab. Well, I knew 8th Avenue was shut down, as well as 42nd Street, meaning, at this point, 9th Avenue was the closest place one could catch a cab. I watched the heads of state all looking around at each other, while an awkward silence ensued, before I finally spoke up, offering to help the woman.
It was still 20 minutes to midnight, and I knew a shortcut to 9th Avenue, so we began our trek. It was slow going until I took her bag, which weighed about as much as her, escorting our customer up and across the Suburban Concourse and down to our destination. I stepped out into the street and with about 10 minutes to spare, I held up my hand and in no time at all became fully aware, that at this time of night, on New Year's Eve, there were no cabs, and those few that did approach raced by “In Service.” I wasn’t too worried, although by 5 minutes to midnight, my hailing became a bit more exaggerated.
Finally, a taxi stopped right in front of us. I opened the door and helped the woman with her bag from the sidewalk into the cab and as I closed the door, she looked up at me and said, “Thank you, son,” adding, “Happy New Year.” I looked down at my watch and realized it was indeed the new year, further concluding, as I watched her cab speed away: this was the best New Year's Eve I’d ever spent at the Port Authority Bus Terminal.
July 12, 1961, at age 17, I came to work with the Port Authority. But my PA story starts earlier. Late 1920’s: my father, Eugene Vincent Sweeney, joined the PAPD, and rose to the position of Traffic Sergeant. Late-1940’s: my mother's brother, John Lynch, joined the PAPD. Mid-1950’s: my mother, Anna Sweeney was a Comptometer Operator in Accounting, and then secretarial positions in Marine Terminals and Aviation at the PAB. She later relocated to JFK Operations until retiring in the 1980’s. And we have a younger family member in the PAPD for several years.
My story: After Basic Clerical Training our group filled in for the summer in various departments. I was in Engineering Design. After the summer, I moved to a C-11 position with the Special Services Division. While there I passed a promotion exam for the C-15 secretarial level, and in 1962 accepted a position with the newly formed World Trade Center project. This impacted the rest of my PA career. The units were staffing up and interviews were with multiple unit managers. One interviewer asked if I knew Anne Sweeney. I told him I was her daughter. Not long after that Personnel called with the offer to work with John McAvey in the Financial Analysis Unit. I called my mother, told her the name and she told me to say yes. I never regretted taking that advice. I began a journey with the World Trade Department until 1979 when Mr. McAvey became the Comptroller and I went with him as Departmental Secretary.
When he retired, I was able to return to the World Trade Department which had a few new projects. One was the Newark Legal and Communications Center and they took me on as their Administrative Assistant. It was great to be in this group working on a new project.
A few years later it was necessary for me to take an extended Leave of Absence. At the time I tried to come back they happened to have a temporary clerical opening in the financial unit with financial staff I knew from earlier WTD days. Not long after that, the new Regional Development Department was formed, and I accepted an offer to join their Administration Unit.
In 1995 the PA had an early retirement package. I had no plans to retire at that point, but someone called me and said: take it, it is God’s gift to you. They were right. Family situations were changing and being home was a priority.
I am grateful to so many people who were there over the years to keep me headed in the right direction. It certainly took a village! God bless you all.
I had the great fortune of building my career with the Port Authority. I spent 28 years working for this wonderful company until I retired.
In October, 1970, I had a chance meeting with an NYU law student (a complete stranger) who advised me to apply to the Port Authority and mention his aunt’s name, Mrs. Adams, as a reference. After my successfully passed written test and interview process, I was hired that same day and told to report to work the following Monday as an Accounting Clerk. Later, two executives -- Saul Goldman, Cost Accounting Supervisor, and Irwin Bressler, Revenue Accounting Supervisor, to whom I owe a heartfelt gratitude -- were instrumental in helping me advance my career. I was promoted to Accountant and then eventually, Accounting Supervisor.
I look back at the many projects and contributions to the company with gratitude to be part of them. I led development of a pilot database for the World Trade Center that included Susan Jones, my assistant, among others and instituted revenue accounting systems and controls for new facilities such as the Newark Legal Center.
My daughter Marlou was able to do a summer internship and worked with Lillian Liburdi, CEO Port Department. The experience she gained was priceless and she now works for The Walt Disney Company.
The World Trade Center was also such a fun place to work. It was always bustling with tourists. It was a playground for my family. I took out-of-town visitors to see the observation deck on the 102nd floor. We saw the 4th of July Centennial parade from my office in the NYC harbor.
With all good memories, there is one unfortunate one that I wish I were never a part of… such as the first bombing on February 26, 1993. My office was located on the 69th floor. I was on the 43rd floor cafeteria having lunch. We heard a loud boom and were told to evacuate the area. I recall some employees jokingly making light of the situation, saying, “Let’s bring our lunch as this may be our last meal”. As we walked down the flight of stairs to the ground floor, we experienced fear as we can barely see in front of us due to the heavy smoke. I made it to my home in Park Slope by crossing the Brooklyn Bridge with no shoes (heels were not comfortable) and winter coat in the freezing cold weather. The 9/11 tragedy destroyed a beloved landmark and took the life of my fellow employee, Ken Grouzalis. Treasured memories come with sadness to think that the iconic buildings that I once called home for many years is no longer there.
I am extremely grateful for having been a part of the Port Authority who took a chance on a female immigrant from the Philippines with an Accounting degree, recognized talent with promotions, and provided long term benefits towards a great retirement. God bless the Port Authority and Happy 100th Anniversary!
Like many other fellow employees, I met my lifelong partner at the Twin Towers. Lori and I have been married for 33 years now -- so just that alone was worth my time at “Mother PONYA.”
In addition, I recall feeling being part of a second generation (if you will) whenever I spoke with older employees still there in the 80’s. As a North “Joisy” Boy, the infrastructure of NY/NJ had always been my passion, so I loved hearing stories about the first generation of employees.
Although I myself purposely stayed on the “individual contributor” track, kudos to the supervisors who provided a very positive corporate culture. I would like to acknowledge the following folks who enabled me to have a really rewarding career:
Phil Leahy, Joe Leiper, Dave Phraner, Rich Roberts (“MER’s” P&D);
Mark Muriello, Joann Papageorgis (TB&T);
Dianne Ehler, Richard Milhaven, Jon Weston (Aviation);
... and of course - the late Ernesto Butcher.
My most memorable time at New Jersey marine terminals would be on 10/29/2012. Better known as Superstorm Sandy. One would think that when I made supervisor would be a memorable time. But it doesn’t come close to hurricane Sandy. I was on vacation when the storm hit. A phone call was made to me asking me if I could return to work ASAP because Port Newark had major damage. Port Newark had received about five feet of water throughout the entire facility. I had a meeting with the General Manager, who goes by the name Mr. Tom Klein. Tom was the best GM that Port Newark ever had and probably ever will. He asked me if I would be able to provide domestic drinking water, fire protection, and pumping of sanitary waste in order to re-open the facility on the following Monday.
After surveying all the damage, I got back to Tom and told him that I can make no promises because Port Newark was in bad shape. I have never ever seen such massive destruction before. I did tell him that I would give him 110% effort as long as he was willing to work with me. I put together a game plan and handpicked my crew that would see this project from beginning to end. There were many people involved but only a few that were there every moment of that project. These key guys working for me were the best in their craft. It was Rich Mckee, Greg White, Kamtha Persaud, Carmine Bernardanilli. These guys were top-notch mechanics and in my eyes there was nobody better than them.
Within six days we were able to achieve what we were told was impossible.
Port Newark had potable drinking water, full fire protection to all buildings, and the abilities to pump sewerage to the Passaic Valley sewerage treatment center. However, these repairs were only temporary until permanent repairs could be put in place. Port Newark was able to allow all tenants who had businesses in Port Newark to return to their businesses. Our tenants were able to start the daunting task of rebuilding their businesses. When that Monday rolled around, we were open for traffic to start flowing down the streets again of Port Newark. My team and I were probably the proudest people that you could ever imagine. We took on a task that we were told was impossible, which in my opinion fueled our determination.
Over the next several months the same crew made permanent repairs to Building 111 fire pump station and The sanitary lift stations. Building 111 services all of Port Newark for domestic water and fire protection. If I had more space to write I would provide all of my trade secrets on how this was accomplished. I tip my hat to Mr. Tom Klein for believing in me and my crew and supporting us on our endeavors. Most of us are now retired. Except for one; he’s now a supervisor at Newark Airport. Over the next several years we had visits from the engineering department to assess the damage at Building 111 fire pump station. Every person that entered the building was astonished at our achievements. No one could tell that there was any damage ever done to this building. We actually drew a line on the wall of the water level that was inside the building as a memory. We were like the marines of Port Newark.
We were the first in and left no one behind. And the mission was successful. I have many great memories of the PA. The Port Authority was my life for 32 1/2 years. I am now retired and plan on doing that for another 32 1/2 years or more. I am very proud of Building 111. I was there from the first piling that was pounded into the ground until I retired. Building 111 was one of my babies.
My fondest agency recollections center on my favorite facility: the Port Authority Bus Terminal – an affection that began as a youngster.
Born and raised in Perth Amboy (with extended family in Brooklyn), the “Port Authority” was my portal to Manhattan’s many attractions. I would take a Transport of New Jersey bus, and with each trip widen my walking radius from the PABT to visit bookstores, hobby shops, and movie theaters. Later, attending college in Manhattan, I made weekend bus trips home and back at all hours.
I was proud as a new employee to be part of the team that labored in the late Eighties and beyond to turn around conditions at the PABT, including development of facility rules-and-regulations signage we pioneered for transportation facilities. This provided a legal basis to control loitering and last-resort sheltering by homeless individuals there, reflecting the notorious conditions around Times Square.
Other PARA stalwarts also will recall our Executive Directors’ assertive support for the campaign to “save” the PABT – Steve Berger’s, “This is for the people who rely on public transit and can’t just roll up their windows,” and Stan Brezenoff’s on-site video message supporting the effort. It made a difference.
Shortly thereafter, I joined then-PABT manager Ken Philmus and colleagues to review a consultant’s report detailing 99 recommendations to improve the terminal. We successfully pushed back against user-unfriendly ideas like eliminating all but one restroom for each gender. Planning, TB&T, and Traffic Engineering staff fought many battles to mitigate impacts on the PABT (and Lincoln Tunnel) operations and structures from development plans and traffic and transit schemes advanced with little regard for the importance and delicacy of our operations.
Finally, I had the honor in 2017 of managing a fast-turnaround planning study commissioned by the Board hoping for a menu of alternative trans-Hudson transit enhancements that would allow scaling down the size (and cost) of a replacement terminal. Working as an interdepartmental team, we delivered timely findings to our Commissioners: even best-case ridership estimates for other near-and-long-term options would not obviate the long-term need for a more capacious PABT. We also showed that operational and physical upgrades on the tunnel approaches could add throughput capacity to support expanded peak-hour bus operations.
Having known the PABT as a grateful young customer, joining agency colleagues as one of its stewards and advocates was a labor of love. It is heartening that PANYNJ leadership has affirmed plans for a modern new bus terminal. Let the public equate “Port Authority” with the PABT. Every employee I knew who spent time there understood that it embodies PANYNJ’s mission to serve diverse travelers in their daily lives and the pursuit of their aspirations. That mission endures. There are generations to come of commuters, day-trippers, intercity travelers, fresh-air-camp kids, and others. May it be there for all of them.
My family physician, Dr. Kooperstein, suggested I apply for work at The Port Authority, for whom he was the Chief Medical Officer. I had recently finished a few years in the Navy and was looking for a job.
I was hired as Building Attendant and via taking and passing the Clerk 1, 2, and 3 tests and serving all in Engineering Design-first under Chief Draftsman Bill Sands in Room 1527 and later under Bill Starr in Room 1137, my work responsibilities increasing as did my title and salary.
By January 1950 I had to resign my Clerk 3 job and move to set up residence in Miami, Florida to undertake some important personal business best handled by attorneys in that state.
Richard Fuller DeForest (Ret.), Architectural Draftsman, my best Buddy, decided to quit and move with me...guess it sounded exciting!
We moved and got an apartment in Miami...by mid-summer my legal work was done and we packed our cars and started driving west. We enjoyed sightseeing but also picked up odd jobs along the way, sleeping in our cars or cheap motels-eventually winding up in Yellowstone National Park at the Old Faithful Geyser area. Some of their summer workers we’re leaving early (mid-August) and we got work as Cabin Boys-- cleaning the overnight guest cabins’ pot belly stoves (only source of heat) and replenishing the firewood as necessary.
When the season closed we helped get the park ready for the Winter Tender. Left Yellowstone and headed for our scheduled winter job at a Ski Resort in Utah. We did everything from Bus Boys and Housekeeping Maids to ski repairs and picking guests up at Salt Lake City about 25 miles away. By mid-December we quit the jobs and headed home.
In January I was hired again as Temp Clerk 1 at -- Guess Where ??? -- Engineering Design, Room 1137, doing the jobs that as Clerk 3 in previous years I would assign Clerk 1’s and 2’s. Eventually took and passed the Clerk 2, 3, & 4 tests, being promoted in Engineering Design as responsibilities increased. My Clerk IV job was re-evaluated and it and I were promoted to the Entry Level of Management! Great, but now it meant that when I work overtime it’s “on the house” and I don’t accumulate Comp Time!
In January of 1969 I had to resign to move to Whiting, New Jersey, to take the position of Operations Manager at America’s Keswick Bible Conference and Alcoholic and Drug Rehabilitation Center in Whiting, New Jersey. This was a full-family move and we served the Lord for 20 years and then retired.
Now, widowed, and at 96, living at a full care retirement center in New Jersey-waiting for my next move-to spend eternity with My Lord Jesus Christ!
I became employed in 1988 and assigned to LaGuardia Airport in the Operations department as a C-14; was on probation for one year and then became permanent. The best of my career was the ability to take classes, given by the Port, to help enhance the ability to be prepared for future promotions. I worked as an Information Agent at the Port Authority Bus Terminal, during the Summer, a C-18 in the Aviation Division at One World Trade Center, and full circle, back to LaGuardia Airport as a C-19 where I spent the rest of my career until I retired in 2003.
The best was being able to educate myself both inside and outside with the assistance of Ma Ponya. The funniest experience was when I had to defend fare increases; each time NYC’s Tribrough Bridge and Tunnel Authority raised their tolls, I had to stand up for the Port by informing my friends and family that the Port is responsible for bridges and tunnels that go from state to state not borough to borough.
The worst was 9/11. I still have the picture of all that were lost on that day and every now and then I look at it and remind myself just how truly blessed I am. If my memory serves me correctly, I believe it was that day I was supposed to be trained on the recently upgraded payroll program; I haven't been the same since.
Happy Centennial!
My Port of Call - My service with the Port Authority began in March 1959 (coming ashore as a marine engineer), and my choice to “come aboard” the PA was one of, if not the keenest, decisions of my life. Without question, my service with the PA proved to be thoroughly stimulating, enriching and most rewarding. Few organizations would have availed me the splendid opportunity to work with and befriend a most professional, competent, and upright “crew,” dedicated to serving arguably the most dynamic and critical key city/seaport in the world.
The benefits in serving with the PA proved to be meaningful, life-long blessings. No question, the richest blessing for me was working with and marrying the Port’s first female Management Trainee: Bonnie Lou Keyser (54+ years now) Management Trainee – Class of 1965 -- the first Equal Opportunity Coordinator directly with Dan Kurshan.
I had the good fortune to serve in key “main office” departments as well as at principal, dynamic facilities. Starting with Ops Services on maintenance study teams at NYIA - now JFK, and the LT. Thence to the GWB, assisting Manager Ernie Black throughout the final stage of the lower level construction – completing my T & B (now TB & T) stint with GM Art Tate during implementation of civilian toll collectors and creation of the LT exclusive bus lane; on mobility briefly with Comptroller Merle Wahlberg – thence to Real Estate with Bill Schwarz; finishing a most stimulating and rewarding career at EWR with Vince Bonaventura and Greg Scheuermann, dealing and negotiating with major corporations: SAS. FedEx, Hertz, Avis, etc. -- providing excellent challenges and opportunities to directly deal with top outside firms.
Along “the way” during my PA career, I enjoyed and was enriched by several exceptional opportunities and experiences: a member of the PA Speaker’s Bureau; assisted Personnel in visiting outstanding universities/colleges to screen prospective Management Trainees; trips to key cities (LA, San Francisco, Houston, Dallas, Chicago +) to evaluate specific airport practices and related functions/activities; member of the Downtowners in PA Softball League winning 1965 League title; winter ski weekend trips with fellow staffers; marching in NYC St. Patrick’s Day parades with PA contingent, and more.
Retiring July 1994 from EWR, my retirement has been graced with the continuing connection/association with many of my fellow retirees. A most unique and special quality about PA retirees is the continuing camaraderie of fellow retirees manifested by the luncheons and other “get-togethers” that convene on a regular basis. I had the privilege of serving as a PARA Director – a most stimulating opportunity to join a dedicated, accomplished body of retirees who conscientiously strive to protect the welfare of all PA /PATH retirees while maintaining open/active contact.
Suffice it to say, I could not have had a more fulfilling “Home Port´ in which to devote the very best years of my life.
Wow! Here’s a challenge for you. Trying to recall events that happened over 60 years ago. Your request for sharing stories and memories of our experiences with the Port Authority came in the mail today. I was not an employee but was the wife of a PA police sergeant, Chester (Chet) Yaszczemski. Sadly, he passed away in 2006 just before his 75th birthday.
Our PA experience began in 1955, soon after he returned home from Korea. Chet served between 1952 and 1954 --six months at Fort Knox, Kentucky and then on to a troop ship out of San Francisco to Korea. He saw action for most of 18 months. Arriving back home, with $300.00 mustering out pay, decisions had to be made, about work, returning to school, housing, where to live, etc. After high school, Chet enrolled as a freshman at the University of Scranton on a football scholarship before he was drafted.
Chet’s Uncle Ray was the first to see the PA ad in a newspaper. Port Authority was looking for persons to be part of a program which offered employment and schooling simultaneously. Work consisted of 32 hours weekly and college courses toward an Associate Degree in Police Science. Chet applied and was accepted. We lived in New Jersey at the time and, of course, the interview was in New York.
The morning of the interview he asked me if I wanted to go into the city with him. I agreed. We boarded a bus which took us to the PA Bus Terminal. With just an address we began walking. Neither one of us knew where we were going. Now we were both young, so walking was no problem, except that we were expecting our first child, our eldest son, Michael. In the heat of the summer of 1955, I kept asking: “How much further?” His answer was always, “Should be there soon.” Did I mention neither one of us knew where we were going?
That all changed, of course, because during the course of his 22-year career with the Port Authority, he came to learn the city like the back of his hand. There was no place he dared not venture, and we did -- from enjoying cappuccino and pastry at Ferarra’s to spending a Saturday afternoon at the South Street Seaport. New York became our second home.
Chet’s employment with the Port Authority was one of the best decisions he ever made. We were so fortunate. We never missed a paycheck in 22 years. The early years were difficult. The take-home pay was $88.00-every two weeks. Our rent was $80.00. It took some balancing. But, that first group went on to eventually graduate with their AA. Chet stuck with it and graduated with his BA from Seton Hall and then went on to N.Y. Law School, passed the bar, and practiced after his retirement from PA.
Chet worked many of the PA facilities. He started at the Holland Tunnel where the police officers were the toll collectors. At some point civilians were hired for toll collecting. The police also walked the tunnels, then the little rail car was installed, and eventually cameras did the work of watching traffic. Chet ended his career at Port Newark where we were honored to meet Father Charles McTague -- Father Charlie. He was everyone’s friend. One of the first acquaintances Chet made on the job was a young man named Bob Marnane. Other friends and partners were Frank Farfalla, Lou and Angelo Iorio, and Gene Griffin (Hi Gene, I often see you mentioned in PARA. hope you and yours are well.). He also came to know Rich Price (later Judge Price of NYC, and Norman Sweeten, Hoboken PD. They often studied at the Hoboken jail well into the night, if it was quiet, of course. If I have either dates or events wrong, I apologize. It’s been a long time; memory fades.
Thank you for this. It was nice going down “memory lane.” I just wish Chet was still here to enjoy it with me. – Pearl Yaszczemski
The Story of Recovery Team Romeo: The following is taken from the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund2010 Calendar, “A Tribute to the Heroes of 9/11”
The month of September, 2010 has been dedicated as a “Tribute to Team Romeo.”
Twenty-two hours after the World Trade Center towers fell on 9-11-2001, the last survivor was pulled from the smoldering rubble. Grueling recovery and clean-up efforts at Ground Zero went on for more than eight long months.
An extraordinary group of 11 retired Port Authority Police Officers - known ever since as Team Romeo - were there from the start (Romeo is the phonetic alphabet for ‘R’ , in their case, retired).
No one asked them to come. They came to search for their fallen comrades. No one demanded that they stay. After all, the members of Team Romeo had already valiantly served their communities, but they stayed. There was work to be done.
Team Romeo served at the WTC site for the 261 days until it was officially closed. For many years during the holidays, these dedicated men also voluntarily staffed the on-site Family Victim Center.
“We Salute Team Romeo”
Police Officers
Joe Audino
Larry Ayers
Ken Cordo
Bill Haubert
Tyrone McCall
Pat McLoughlin
Jim O’Hanlon
Rich Radoian
Dom Ricigliano
John Soltes
Lieutenant
Tony Zeoli
Team Romeo was also awarded the New Jersey Governor’s Volunteer Award for Public Safety in 2003. They were also honored by the University of Medicine & Dentistry Cop2Cop Program by the University’s Behavioral Health Department, by dedicating the 5th Race at the Meadowlands Racetrack to them. “COP2COP / TEAM ROMEO”