Never Waste a Moment

Jo Vasquez never has, and never will, waste a moment!

Jo has never been good at staying still. When the COVID-19 pandemic started, the boredom of being locked inside with nothing to do was so bad that she registered for classes at the senior center, even if they didn’t interest her. She learned about Zoom, real estate, technology, current events, exercise and other topics. She filled notebooks, and when one class ended, she registered for others. Surprisingly, even with hours of daily activities, this is the least busy Jo has been!

Jo grew up in the Yorkville section of Manhattan. Despite being the only Latinx person in her neighborhood and school, she was immersed among people of various cultures. While attending her all-girls high school, her family moved to Manhattan’s Lower East Side. After graduation, she stumbled across her successful 37-year career by chance.

“I was walking along Broadway, to Rector Street—at that time, many employment agencies were on Rector Street—and it started raining as I passed 195 Broadway. I saw a sign that said ‘hiring,’ and went inside to avoid the rain. I took a test, passed, and was hired on the spot.” With that, Jo began her career with AT&T!

During the summer of 1971, the Communications Workers of America labor union went on strike against New York Telephone (now part of Verizon). AT&T loaned managers to NY Tel, including Jo. Union workers threw heads of lettuce at Jo every time she crossed the picket line. After the strike, she returned to AT&T until her division moved to New Jersey, and Jo was transferred back to NY Tel, and placed in the “plant department,” a traditionally all-male department.

“What a horrible experience! They hired quite a few women—some recent college graduates and some from AT&T. We were responsible for reading meters in metal cabinets in equipment rooms; many cabinets contained obscene photos…Management eventually addressed the problem—there were now Ladies present, I think they actually spelled it with a capital ‘L.’”

Jo promptly transferred back to AT&T—“thank goodness.” Her division again moved to New Jersey; Jo drove a dreadful 100 miles each day for 7 years, caring for her parents in New York. When Jo’s department was eliminated, she returned to where she belonged: working at AT&T in her hometown of Manhattan.

Pace University was around the corner from her new office, so Jo took night classes. For 10 years, she balanced work, school, and caring for her home and husband, which at the time was a large undertaking on its own. She graduated in 1983, at 41 years old.

“Don’t let anything discourage you. My mother-in-law once said to me, ‘Why are you in school? You have a husband.’ I wanted to laugh, but I realized that not everyone prioritizes education as highly as I do!”

After graduating, Jo qualified for new advancement opportunities at AT&T, spending the remainder of her 37 years in communications, and breaking glass ceilings for women who followed. Now retired, she continues to believe in the power of education, and generously and consistently donates to Pace. Jo has even included Pace as a beneficiary of her estate.

“Pace was very good to me. I enjoyed the classes and the professors. I’ve gotten so much out of life and work and school and family; it was time for me to give back, especially to those who do not have the means to take classes. If their heart is into furthering their education, then I truly believe it is the duty of people like myself to help them.”

Jo worked tirelessly to improve herself and those around her. Even now, she continues learning and growing through her busy class schedule and philanthropy.

“My feeling is that if you’re going to give of your precious time, you should make the most of it!”

Like Jo, you can create opportunities for future Pace students through your estate plan. To learn more, contact Marc Potolsky at 212-346-1619 or mpotolsky@pace.edu today.