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Secret Agent Dad
Bob Antonez, ‘78
By Jon Wurtmann
(Scroll down for second article)
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He’s traded in his badge for a putter, and his semiautomic for a
stroller. And he couldn’t be happier. After 23 years as an
agent for the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bob Antonez is back
“home” in Saratoga, spending his retirement enjoying some golf and
raising his young son Jake, aged 5.
After graduating in 1978, Antonez spent a year working for Skidmore
admissions, then he earned a degree from the University of Bridgeport
School of Law. On something like a whim, he applied at the
Bureau, and before he knew it, he had a gun in his hands. “I had
never held a gun before” he chuckles, “And now they wanted me to pull
the trigger as many times as I could.” He must have been a
natural, because shortly thereafter he found himself at Quantico for
the rigorous 15-week training made famous in the movie The Silence of
the Lambs.
His first assignment was in Buffalo, where the border tempts all manner
of smugglers, and gives the FBI plenty of opportunities to ply their
trade. It was a heady time for Antonez who saw lots of action as
a member of the SWAT team and made some spectacular busts. From
there he transferred to New York City, where he spent the bulk of his
career pursuing kidnappers, extortionists, drug runners, and bank
robbers. During track season, he’d return to Saratoga visiting
and staying with his friend and former advisor, Professor Robert Smith.
He shares a funny story from that time. “We were gathering
evidence on a suspect through a hidden mic planted on the victim,
watching from a safe distance. The suspect suddenly smelled a rat
and bolted, and we gave chase on foot. After losing him for a
minute, we saw him calling a cab and then he ran for the end of the
hotel drive. We jumped into my partner’s car – a big Lincoln –
and pulled up alongside him. Thinking it was a livery for
hire, he flagged us down and said ‘Man am I glad to see you!’ I
got out to open the backdoor for him, and said, ‘Here, let me help
you.’ Then I cuffed him and put him in back.”
But even with all that excitement, Antonez was thinking about Saratoga,
and trying to arrange a transfer to the Albany office. In 2000, he and
his wife, Eve Mulholland, ’86, bought an in-town carriage house with
the hopes that they could eventually move back to the town they
loved. The transfer finally came through in 2005, and Antonez
finished his FBI career in the Albany office, a relatively quieter post
than his previous assignments.
“We’re so happy to be back in Saratoga. We always loved this
town, even in the 70’s when many of the great houses were boarded
up. There’s a character and charm that’s unique to this
place. Now we walk into town, to restaurants, to the park.”
Antonez has returned to Skidmore as well; he’s just been named
Assistant Coach of the golf team, and young Jake attends pre-school on
campus. Father and son, back to school.
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A Life
of Service
Steve Sullivan, ‘78
By Jon Wurtmann
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Sully’s been a fixture in town for so many years now, it’s hard to
imagine Saratoga without him. His ubiquitous presence at the Old
Bryant Inn and Longfellows is due partly to his ownership stake and
partly due to the fact that he loves the hospitality business. “I
still work six shifts a week” he says with a sly smile, “If you count
the hours, then you’re not having fun!”
Sully worked his way through Skidmore, first on campus in food service,
then downtown working in restaurants. He regrets not having more
time for sports and extra-curricular activities, but feels proud that
he put himself through school. “I’m very appreciative of my
Skidmore education, and thankful that they took a chance with an
inner-city Boston kid from Hyde Park.” He cites Dean of Students
Pete Sipperly specifically as a mentor and advisor.
He’s now repaid that debt of gratitude many times over, both to the
college and to the town that loves. Serving on the Skidmore Board
of Trustees, the Saratoga Hospital Board of Trustees, the Adirondack
Trust Board of Directors, the St. Clements Finance Council, the
Workforce Housing Trust, and the Saratoga Convention and Tourism
Bureau, he feels that he’s been put in a position to help others.
“We’re not here just to succeed in business” he says with quiet
purpose, “We have the opportunity to help the community, the less
fortunate, and the next generation.” He talks about Saratoga’s
unique civic-mindedness, which makes for a stronger community,
“Saratoga has a certain magic that you don’t see in other towns.”
Beyond his work on boards, he also works closely with a number of
non-profits locally, gifting the restaurant facilities, food and
beverage for some 15 events annually. Through Sully’s generosity,
these organizations have been able to raise hundreds of thousands of
dollars. “I like to believe we’re making a difference” he says
humbly.
This mission of service begins with his management style, which he
labels ‘service leadership.’ “I’m here to serve the people who
serve our guests” he says with a twinkle in his eye, “I truly love
working with people, and we’ve got the greatest employees in our
organization – 205 of them!” No doubt, his positive role model
has helped his company grow to encompass two restaurants, a 50-room
hotel, convention center and a catering business.
Maybe because he worked his way up in the restaurant business, he feels
so passionately about extending opportunities to others. At both
restaurants and the hotel, he’s instituted internship and training
programs to help kids learn the hospitality business. He’s most
proud when they go on and get an education, then return to seek
employment within the organization.
Married with two grown daughters, you’ll still find him greeting
customers at the Old Bryant Inn or Longfellows on a Saturday
night. “Probably 25 to 30 percent of our business is Skidmore
students and their parents” he grins, “I just love talking about
Skidmore and Saratoga with them. I think of myself as an alumni
ambassador.”
