Long-serving Barnard Facilities Employees Milton Tannis, Joe Rivera, Mable Peters, Will Hodgers, Fernando Gonzalez, and Edward Baltazar Retiring

Milton Tannis

New York, NY, June 19, 2002—Milton Tannis, the College plumber who has worked at Barnard longer than any other current employee, will be officially retiring on July 8 after nearly 41 years. Five days later, fellow plumber Joe Rivera will retire after 25 years. Tannis, whose first day on campus was September 26, 1961, will be retiring to St. Vincent in the West Indies, where he lived until coming to New York in August, 1961.

"Barnard was my first and only employer in America," said Tannis. "I’ve enjoyed working here and met some very nice and very important people. Ever since I started here, I have been treated like a member of a family."

Tannis was originally hired to work in the food service section, but eventually moved to housekeeping and finally, became the campus plumber. Over the years, his activity in the Local 264 of the Transport Workers Union of America led to multiple three-year terms as treasurer.

"Milton’s strong, effective, and dignified presence on our campus in the Facilities Department has touched us all in the Barnard community," President Judith Shapiro said during the Spring Party.

"When he promises to do something, he’s usually already doing it," said mechanic aid John Kun.

"I often went to him for advice," said Ray Torres, groundskeeper and vice president of the union. "It’s good to know someone like that."

Joe Rivera

At the Spring Party, President Shapiro also addressed Rivera, who will be officially retiring on July 13. She said, "For the past twenty-five years, Joe has brought his quiet, kind, steady manner to work each day, along with a warm smile. We were always able to count on you, Joe."

Rivera began his career at Barnard as a plumber in August of 1977. For 20 of his 25 years at Barnard, Rivera’s younger brother, Tommy, has worked with him in the Facilities Department.

The elder Rivera was hired the same year as Ray Torres but, according to Torres, "He always said I was his son and I always respected him as a father."

"He’s a computer," Kun said of Rivera. "He knows where every pipe in the entire campus comes from and where it goes."

"It has been a pleasure working with him," said Tannis. "I regard him as a true friend."

"These are two guys who are good for the world," said Torres. "They made a path for guys like me that I’ve always tried to follow. I learned a lot about tackling problems, personal and professional, from them."

In addition to Tannis and Rivera, long-serving Facilities employees Mable Peters, Will Hodgers, Fernando Gonzalez, and Edward Baltazar will also be retiring at the end of July 2002.

Peters has been a member of the Barnard Housekeeping staff for 17 years, Hodgers for 27 years, Fernando and Gonzalez for 32 years. Baltazar has served in the Barnard Security for 19 years. Barnard thanks them all for their outstanding service and would like to wish them the best for their retirement.

Contact: Petra Tuomi, Office of Public Affairs, 212-854-7907
James Griffith, Office of Public Affairs, 212-854-7583