Joseph "Joe" G. Iantuono

My uncle was an engineer and that inspired me for picking that trade. The City College of New York was available at that time. I didn't apply anywhere else. I commuted and drove to and from with another gentleman by the name of Gerald Zimmerman, who lived nearby. I made friends with about four other people that I have kept in touch with for my lifetime. One of my favorite memories was attending a surveying class in Van Cortlandt Park, and it was so interesting learning how to survey. It was a gorgeous school and the college buildings were so beautiful. I always felt that the quality of the education was top-rated and very challenging. It was an honor to graduate there. I was able to get a summer job, and I worked every summer mostly with the City of New York. My first job was with the Department of Water Supply. I was on the surveying team, and my job was to hold the pole. I worked hard and was able to graduate. Before we graduated, the City of New York was upgrading its engineering staff. They hired me and two of my other friends immediately in one interview because of the quality of the school. I worked for the New York City Department of Transportation for about three years. Simultaneously, I went to law school at night, and I graduated with my law degree in 1972. When I got my law degree, I became a patent attorney. CCNY means opportunity. Engineering was such an interesting thing to study that every time I learned something new, it was enjoyable and very useful. I went on to work for the Port Authority in their Contracts Department and prepared the construction contracts that improved the infrastructure. I transferred to the New York City Department of Education and became the director of contract administration, where I oversaw the team that improved the existing schools and designed some new ones for the students.