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Paul Pietropaolo Inducted: 2004 - Graduated: 1976
Paul’s interest in wrestling was fueled by his older brother Jim. When Jimmywas in high school, hewould come home after practice and proudly show his younger brothers – Tom, Paul and Bobby – all the new moves that Coach Ray Stedge had taught him. The living roomwould be cleared of furniture and the brothers would have at it, while their sister Janet cheered themon. This fraternal competition, combined with Nanuet’s Saturday morning wrestling program, gave Paul his start in wrestling. In high school, wrestling became a passion for Paul. Coached by Rich Conklin and Mike Achille, he went on to establish himself as a premier Rockland County wrestler, with such accomplishments as the following: • The first Rockland County wrestler to reach 100 career victories • Four years undefeated in Rockland County Public School Athletic League (RCPSAL) dual matches with a record of 35 – 0. • Three-time Rockland County champion • Four-time Section 9 champion • A member of the 1975 Section 9 team that won the New York State championship • And placing three times in the New York State tournament, including a second-place finish in the 1975 New York State championships. In addition to wrestling while in high school, Paul played soccer and pole vaulted for the spring track team, the 1975 edition of which was honored as the 2003 team inductee into the Nanuet High School Sports Hall of Fame. Paul culminated his senior year, 1976, by being named recipient of the prestigious Jerry Leo Award. Paul continued to wrestle at Cornell University, where under Coach J. Andy Noel he wrestled varsity for four years. Paul still keeps active with the sport of wrestling by assisting the current Nanuet varsity coach, Brendan Rodgers, with the NanuetWrestling Club. Professionally, Paul is a 24-year veteran of the design and construction industry, of which the past 17 years have been with the engineering department of the Port Authority of NewYork andNew Jersey. Currently, Paul is the engineer of projects for capital security projects and he is involved with the delivery of the PortAuthority’s $500million security program. Prior to his current assignment, he was involved with the restoration of the World Trade Center site and Lower Manhattan. Paul was a member of the management team that was responsible for the restoration of the PATH (Port Authority Trans-Hudson) station at Exchange Place inNew Jersey and the construction of the temporaryWorld Trade Center PATH station in New York City. In addition, he supervised the initial planning effort for the World Trade Center master plan, which created an overall vision for the World Trade Center reconstruction. Paul is also a survivor of both the 1993 and the 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. He was awarded the Port Authority of NY & NJ Civilian Commendation Award for Bravery, for action taken on September 11, 2001, concerning the evacuation of staff from the World Trade Center. In the aftermath of the 9-11WorldTradeCenter attacks,Paul was selected as the special assistant to the acting executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Paul became an indispensable part of the agency’smanagement teamduring that difficult rebuilding period. Paul holds a B.S. degree in landscape architecture from Cornell University and an M.B.A. in marketing from Iona College. In addition, he is a licensed landscape architect and certified planner. Paul and his wife, Susan, (a former Pearl River Pirate) have two daughters, Jill and Amanda, and reside in New City. |