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Board Member Profiles - Updated
July 09,
2009
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Patricia Beckhard -
Began her Port Authority Career in 1957. She held positions in the Port
Commerce and World Trade Departments and in 1985 became a Staff
Information Officer in the Public Affairs Department, a position she
held until her retirement in January of 1989.
Pat has been a Board
Member of PARA since 1995 and has been the Editor and Assistant Editor
for PARA's
Newsletter.
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Holly Blauser - Holly
began her PA career in 1964 in Planning and Development. She moved on to
positions in World Trade as a Lease Negotiator, Personnel, where she
worked on the Trainee, Influx, and Affirmative Action programs and then
on to Public Affairs, the Ferry Initiative and the Speakers Bureau.
Holly was a recipient of two Unit Citations; one as part of World
Trade Recovery and another for Handicapped Affirmative Action. When
Holly retired with other of her colleagues in 1995 she had completed 30
years of service. Holly is a Board member for Parents in Action, a
nonprofit for teen drug and alcohol abuse prevention.
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Elizabeth De Laura - Began her Port Authority Career in 1959.
She held positions in the Tunnels & Bridges Department, Management
Services Department, Purchasing, Office of the Chief Financial Officer
and in 1990 became a Financial Analyst in the Treasury Department, a
position she held until her retirement in August of 1995.
Liz has held the position of Treasurer for Women’s Equity and Holy
Trinity Church in Hillsdale, NJ. Following her retirement she worked as
a Deputy Tax Collector for the Borough of Montvale, NJ. |
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Jerry Doherty - Jerry
participated in the 1962 Management Trainee Program and in junior
management assignments in the T&B and Operations Services Departments
before taking a military leave with the US Navy. After the Navy, he
worked in Rail Transportation and the Marine Terminals Dept., as
Assistant Manager at the Brooklyn Piers and later as a Senior Property
Representative. Following an assignment with the Regional Economic
Development Task Force, he held a series of economic development job
responsibilities. As Manager, he assembled the
team to establish, operate and renovate the Industrial Park at
Yonkers. Before retiring at the end of 1996, Jerry served as
Manager of the Essex County Resource Recovery Project. |
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Upon retirement, Jerry went
from volunteer fund raising to a full time position as Director
of Development for St. Peter’s Prep in Jersey City. More
recently, he divided his time between NYC and London when his
wife accepted a job there. |
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Tom Donovan -
Is a Port Authority veteran who served for forty years. He held
positions in the Operations and Aviation Departments, the Executive
Director's Office and World Trade.
In Retirement he serves on the Board
of Directors for two Long Island Social
Services agencies. As a member of PARA's
Board of Directors he has chaired and been a part of several committees. |
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Rita DuBrow -
Began her PA career in the World Trade Department in September of 1973
and later held positions in Operating Personnel, Employee Benefits:
where she was so helpful to so many and the Teleport from which she
retired in 2005.
Rita has been active in her Condominium Association
where she has been on their, Architectural, Newsletter, House and Rules
and Regulations
Committees. She has also served as a member of their Board of
directors. |
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Dave Gallagher
- Dave joined the PA in 1963 as a Management Trainee. After
completing his military obligation, he held several
administrative positions before moving to Human Resources where
he served in the Director's office, Management, Operating and
Training Divisions over an eight year period. Dave then moved to
the Engineering Department in 1975 where he managed the division
responsible for all the business, finance and administration
activities of the department. In 1985 he was
selected for the Executive Development Program and was promoted
to Assistant Director of the Tunnels, Bridges and Terminals
Department where he was responsible for all non field activities
including properties, customer relations, engineering and
planning, finance and budget and departmental operations
planning. |
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He also served as project leader for the initial
planning and implementation of the PA's EZPass program in cooperation with
the region's interagency group (IAG). Dave retired from the PA
in 1996 after 33 years of service. He later worked for several
years in the North America marketing and sales office of a large
European bus manufacturer where he was the Director, North
American Operations. He currently serves on the board of a
nonprofit organization which provides housing and support
services for several hundred mentally ill and developmentally
disabled individuals in nine counties in New Jersey. |
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Lee Goodman -
Joined the Port Authority's Traffic Engineering Division in 1956. He
moved on to positions in Planning and Development, Manager,
Transportation Planning Division and then on to Tunnels Bridges and
Terminals.
Since his retirement in 1992 Lee has been doing consulting
work in traffic engineering and transportation planning. He has held
office and been active in the Institute of Transportation Engineers and
was president of that group in 1993. Lee has served on the board of
Temple Emanuel in New Hyde Park. |
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Al Graser
- Al joined the Port Authority in 1968 directly from a three
year tour with the US Army and spent most of the following 40
years with the Aviation Department at JFK, LGA and HQ. He
continued his association with the US Army Reserves for the next
thirty years retiring in 1994 as a Colonel and from the Port
Authority in Feb 2008 after special assignment on the Stewart
and Delay Reduction task forces. He has just finished his first
semester as an adjunct professor at Vaughn College teaching both
Airport Operations and Planning courses. |
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Richard (Dick) Helman
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Joined the PA Law Department following his graduation from Columbia Law School.
He served as Chief of the New York Litigation Division and later as
Chief of the Commercial Litigation Division. Dick has taught at NYU for
over 30 years and continues to do so. He was one of eight founders of
the Port Authority Pension Action Committee (PAPAC) who successfully
challenged the Retirement System regarding a Final Average Salary issue.
Winning meant a higher pension for many retirees both past and present.
Dick subsequently became a PARA board member and two years ago its'
President. Dick was also a
recipient of The Distinguished Service Medal from the PA. |
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Rae Ann Hoffmann -
Joined the Port Authority in 1973 as a Management Trainee. She is the
General Manager, Marketing Communications, Public Affairs Dept., where
she manages all non-press external communications for the agency. Prior
to this she held positions in several departments including World Trade,
Real Estate, and the Executive Director's Office. She has won many
awards in advertising and marketing, received four awards for service
contributions from the Board (Medal Awards), and co-founded the Lower
Manhattan Marketing Association. She graduated from Georgetown
University where she is an active alumna, and does fund raising
for Packer Collegiate Institute where her youngest of three
children is a HS junior. She lives with her husband, Bob Jones,
and children in Brooklyn. |
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George
Jensen -
Joined the Port Authority in March 1960 after completing a two year tour
of duty in the US Army Corps of Engineers. His father had previously
been absorbed into the Port Authority family when the Brooklyn Piers
were purchased from his former employer in 1956.
George spent most of
his career in the Aviation Department although he also was a member of
the Engineering and Economic Development Departments. George retired
from the position of Manager, Airport Facilities Division at JFK in
August 1995. |
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Tom Kearney -
Spent
his entire 30 year career in positions associated with the World
Trade Center, including director, World Trade Institute. At his
retirement in 1989, he was assistant director, World Trade and
Economic Development Department.
Upon retiring, Tom worked for
the World Trade Centers Association as vice president, a
position he held until 1997, and he continues to work as a
consultant for that group. Tom is the PARA board's liaison
person with Joe SanSevero, webmaster of PARA's website. |
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L. Michael (Mike) Krieger Esq. -
After serving 32 years, Mike retired in 1997 as General Manager,
Regional and Economic Development, in the Port Department. Mike led the
multi-departmental team receiving the Executive Director's Unit Citation
Award in 1996 relating to waterfront development.
He has been practicing
law since then and is a member of the N.Y., N.J. and D.C. Bars. Mike has
served on the Boards of several not-for-profits, including The
Waterfront Center, Apple Ridge Condominium Association (serving also as
its President),
and on the PARA Board since 2003 focusing on board governance,
estate planning and pension taxation issues. |
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Richard (Dick) Lee
- Dick was appointed to the Board as Treasurer on March 20,
2009. He started his Port Authority service in July 1966 in the
Accounting Division and spent most of his PA career in
supervisory and management positions in the various divisions
within the Comptroller’s Department. He also worked for a
number of years in the Aviation Department and on special
assignment with the World Trade Department in 1992. Upon
retiring in 1996 Dick went on to become Controller of The New
Jersey Credit Union League and then moved on to work with a
number of other PA retirees on transportation issues with The
National Transit Institute at Rutgers University. |
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Al Pettenatti -
Began his 40 year career in the Police Division at the G.W.B. and held
positions in the Comptrollers, Engineering and Port Development
Departments. In April 1962 he joined the World Trade Department with
duties connected to the 1964-1965 World's Fair. At retirement in 1994 Al
held the position of Manager W.T.C. Observation Deck and Travel, Trade
and Tourism Development. In 1991 he was awarded the PA's Distinguished
Service Medal and in 1993 the Act of Valor Medal following the 1993
W.T.C. bombing.
Al is a Korean War Veteran, a graduate of Adelphi University and
lives with his wife in Elmwood Park, New Jersey.
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Stan Raith -
Began his PA career in 1962 following his discharge from the US Navy.
During his 32 + years of service Stan held positions in General
Services, Rail Transportation, Tunnels Bridges
and Terminals and Human Resources.
He was Supervisor Employee Benefits
at retirement in 1995. Stan a Rutgers University Graduate is active in
his church and community and has been on the Board of Directors of PARA
for several years. He is currently Editor of PARA'S Newsletter. Stan
with Dick Helman
was also one of the eight founders of PAPAC. |
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Richard L. Rowe -
Retired from the PA in June 1994 after 42 years of distinguished
service. At the time of his retirement Dick was General Manager of JFK,
a position he held for 12 years. During his career Dick held the
position of Asst. Director of Aviation, Manager Operating Personnel
Division, Asst. Manager and then Manager of the PABT and Manager of
Labor Relations and Equal Employment
Opportunity Divisions.
Dick attained both his Bachelor's and Master's
Degrees in Business from City
University. |
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Mario V. Salzano -
Retired in 1989, after 38 years of service, from his position as Manager
of the World Trade Center's
Public Services Division. He was elected President of the Port Service
Club in 1988 and received the Club's Annual Award in 1991.
Upon his retirement Mario was awarded the PA's. Distinguished Service
Medal by the Board of Commissioners. |
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John E. (Jack) Savage
- Jack began his PA career in June 1962 as a Management Trainee and in
September of that year was assigned to the World Trade Department.
During his 33 year career he held positions in World Trade, Planning and
Development, Personnel, Public Affairs, Marine Terminals, the Port
Department and at his retirement in August 1995, was Assistant Director
(Acting) of Port Sales and Marketing. Jack is a retired US Navy Reserve
Captain having served from 1961 to 1990. A resident of
Maywood New Jersey he has been a Councilman since 2004 and has held
office and been active in civic, fraternal and business organizations in
his community.
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Jack is also on the Board of
Directors of St. Josephs Home for the Blind and St. Peters Prep
Alumni Association. From 1995 to 2002 he served as Assistant to
the President, Government and Community Affairs at St. Peters
College where he also served as an Adjunct Professor in their
Management and Marketing Department. Jack is married, has three
children and seven grandchildren. |
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Domenick
Varricchio –
Appointed to
the PA Police Force in February, 1972, Dom was assigned to the
PABT, where he spent almost half of his 28+ years of service.
He was promoted to Sergeant and Lieutenant and later served as
the Executive Officer at the SIB/Teleport and Newark Airport
Commands until his retirement in May, 2000. Other
assignments included the Police Academy, JFK Airport, and Police
Headquarters. |
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Dom was elected to the Executive Board of the
Lieutenant's Benevolent Association, where he served for 18
years on numerous committees including the contract negotiation
team. He had
worked for many years at the Special Olympics summer games, and
also volunteered, following 9/11, at the Family Services center
in the EWR Marriott. A professor of Graduate Studies at Seton
Hall University, Dom enjoys frequent trips to Florida. He
joined PARA 8 years ago, and is a member of the Signal 8-2, the
Retired Police Association, and the National Police Defense
Foundation. |
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Ralph
Verrill - Joined the
Port Authority in October 1968 as an attorney in the Leases Division of
the Law Department where he remained for the next 32 years participating
on behalf of the Authority in a great variety of business and financial
arrangements.
Ralph retired in December 2000 as Chief of the Division
and since then has been enjoying time with family, volunteered as an EMT
on his community ambulance squad for three years and volunteered with
AARP as a defensive driving instructor. Ralph has acquired a vintage
sailboat and MG which he tinkers with and uses as much as he can. |
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Harmon M. Williams -
Began his PA career in Operations Standards in 1959. He later held
positions in the General Manager's Office at the G.W.B., the General
Manager of T&B, the Comptroller's Office, Real Estate Department and at
his retirement with the Aviation Department's Properties Division at Newark Airport.
Harmon was active in the PA Speaker's Bureau, TAG,
the Management Trainee Recruitment Program and the PA's softball League.
He is Married to Bonnie Kaiser a former PA Management Trainee; class of
65, who was the first E.O.C. Coordinator.
Harmon and Bonnie have 2 children and 6 grandchildren.
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Harmon is an Information Officer for the U.S. Naval Academy, a
member of Toastmasters International, a Home
School Instructor, Church Consistory man and a Boy Scout Merit Badge
Counselor. |
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PARA
Webmaster |
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Joseph
(Joe) SanSevero - He worked for thirty-six years at the Port Authority as an
electrician, engineering technician, research analyst and, most
recently, as a Network Administrator. His knowledge and
responsibilities spanned all technology, computer and video related
projects for two major line departments. In 1993 he received
the Distinguished Public Service Medal for his advanced work in
the field of Technology. Especially in Traffic Control,
Toll Automation and the development of slow scan video
transmission over standard telephone lines. |
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Since his retirement, Joe started his own technology consultant company
and has designed, published and now manages eleven Websites, including
the Port Authority Retirees Association, Inc. website. Joe is an
Executive Board Member and Technical Consultant for both SeniorNet, an
organization committed to guiding seniors into the technology age and
SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives). He is not a Board
member but is the Webmaster for the Port Authority Retirees Association,
Inc. website. |
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