José L. Sánchez

U.S. Army
1962-1965

José Luis Sánchez was born in Cienfuegos, Cuba, on June 11, 1939. As a teenager, he immigrated to the United States. He was sponsored by his aunt, Aida, who was a guiding force in his life, encouraging him to prioritize his education as he built a new future.

José graduated from NYC Community College in Brooklyn with a degree in Construction Technology, he missed the graduation exercise because he enlisted in army in January 1962.

After basic training at Fort Dix, New Jersey and advance infantry training in Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, José was assigned to the 17th Engineer Battalion of the 2nd Armored Division in Fort Hood, Texas (one of the divisions ready to be mobilized in war within 24 hours). He was honorably discharged from Army in 1965.

After the Army, José was able to leverage his education and training to gain employment for a consultant's surveying party as a transitman. One project was preliminary work for a roadway from Cross-bay Blvd in Queens to the Midtown tunnel and the Williamsburg bridge. Another project was on the New Jersey Turnpike extension by Secaucus. He then went to work at the NYC Bureau of Water Supply, Gas and Electric in 1966, the bureau was later incorporated with the Department of Environmental Projection (DEP).

José met his wife Jean while "gallivanting" in Manhattan with the YWMCA weekly social club and Marble Collegiate Church for young singles. They married in 1971. His high school friend, Pedro Perez was his best man. José and Jean had two daughters, Barbara and Linda and eventually moved from Far Rockaway, Queens to New Dorp, Staten Island.

José graduated Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute with a Bachelors of Science in Civil Engineering June 1976 and earned his Professional Engineer License 1979. He won a $2,000 award from the City of New York for his invention to save fire hydrants from being stolen.

He retired from DEP November 1996, and was hired by HAKS October 1997 on the West Side Highway Project as a Water Main Inspector. In January 2011, he moved on to East Houston Street Rehabilitation Project. He retired from engineering in 2019 at the age of 80.

José is always ready to assist family, friends and the community. He helped coach OLQP boys soccer in the 80s, and in the 90s, he volunteered at Edgar Nursing home bringing residents to mass. José and Jean volunteered for many years with Meals on Wheels and were dedicated members of Friends of Mount Manresa. For the past 5 years they have participated in the Staten Island Memorial Day Parade representing Port Richmond's Veteran Banners program. They actively volunteer with Project Hospitality Food Pantry on Canal Street in Staten Island.

Sponsored by Barbara Sanchez