Baruch VIP Tony Ermilio
It was June 9, 1977, and I was in Carnegie Hall, attending my graduation from Baruch College. The valedictorian collapsed on stage during her speech, and Tony Ermilio, fondly called “Elevator Tony,” rushed to the stage to assist and help revive her before Carnegie Hall staff or public safety officers came to her aid. After he helped her regain composure and return to the platform, Tony left the stage to a standing ovation.
I often think of Tony and know that there are many more whose lives he touched.
—Steven L. Boyer (’77)
Like a Subway Stop
“There were fast-moving lines at the elevators, with the lead elevator operator always there with a smile. By senior year, he knew us well, and there was more personal conversation, etc. ‘You’re a bit late today, Richard. Take elevator 4.” But those lines did move. Sort of like a subway stop.”
—Richard L. Gilbert (’42)
Wild About Harry
It was 2004 or 2005, and Martin Bodian [class of ’52] and I were meeting at 17 Lex with College Advancement to discuss the creation of an APO* scholarship fund. Advancement’s located on the 16th floor, so we were riding up on the elevators. We got in the elevator car—very different from what they looked like in our time—with a bunch of current college kids. I turned to Marty and said, “No Harry.” Then looking around at the students, I added, “They don’t know what we’re talking about.”
Everything was electronic; Harry the elevator man had been replaced by a panel. But in our time, Harry was ubiquitous. When you got on the elevator, there he was.
—Ed Ruzinsky (’54)
*The service fraternity Alpha Phi Omega (APO) was founded at Baruch in 1939 and was active on campus through 1966. In 2005, 90 APO “brothers”—spanning three decades of alumni—established a group scholarship, the APO Memorial Scholarship, which is awarded annually. To date, APO alumni have raised over $266,000 in support of Baruch students.
Elevator Etiquette
Harry the Elevator Operator taught all the students “elevator etiquette.” From him I learned that passengers should always thank the elevator operator upon exiting. [It was a more polite era.]
—Philip Honig (’58)
Seymour Trager (’46) Shares His Elevator Memories
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