I graduated from Tech in the College Prep course, with a 79.6 weighted average, putting me in the bottom half of my graduating class.
When I was ten, my parents moved from an apartment in Brownsville, Brooklyn to a two-family house in Canarsie. The neighborhood was old and much of the area was swamp/marsh land. The builder was constructing hundreds of new homes, and I was fascinated with the process of construction. At 10 years old I wanted to be a builder. When I was got to Tech in 1961, I was just turning 14 and the courses available were perfect for me to begin my journey. I chose CP as I was unsure whether to select the Architectural or Structural major. I was good at math and impressed by Dr. Barnett Rich, my first math teacher. Unfortunately, I was not as good in shop or technical drawing.
I tried out for JV football freshman year and didn’t make it. Determined, I went on to football camp that summer for my sophomore year and again didn’t make the team. My junior year I made the team and got a chance to play quite a bit. My senior year I was a co-captain.
I went on to Northeastern University and played on the freshman football team. I spent the next few years in Northeastern’s Co-op plan, combining real-world work experience and academics as part of the five-year degree requirement. While still an undergrad, I worked for a surveyor, sanitary engineer, highway engineer, and finally for Turner Construction, a building contractor. I graduated in 1970 with a degree in Civil Engineering.
I have spent my career in the building construction industry working on projects all across the country. The last 28 years I have had my own firm. In 2009, at age 62, I went to law school at night and graduated in 2014 at 67. I am now semi-retired.
What I learned from my years at Tech was you must work hard in order to succeed in life; things do not come easy.