Alfred Geddes

I wonder if it is some sort of cosmic coincidence, that the Port Authority of NY & NJ and I share the same birthday. I am sort of from a PA family. My uncle Lawrence Kendall worked in the PA until his retirement. So did his son, Robert T. Kendall.

I had never thought that I would be part of this organization until June of 1969. A neighbor’s daughter worked for PATH. Her father told my stepfather of a job opening as a conductor. I had recently graduated from college, but was having trouble finding employment due to a 1A draft classification. I went to PATH headquarters in the old Hudson Terminal. I was subsequently hired. The neighbor’s daughter was Karen Matthews, the first female PATH Superintendent of Transportation.

An amusing anecdote: another new hire and I were sent to Holland Tunnel medical. We were told to remove our clothes and wait for a doctor to examine us. We wound up sitting naked on a plastic chair for over an hour, looking out a window watching vehicles exiting the tunnel, until either Dr. Grossman or Dr. Nicosia arrived.

I worked for 38 years. I was at the World Trade Center on 9/11/ 01. I had many diverse experiences in all those years. In all, the Port Authority provided a decent living and decent working conditions. I have no regrets.