Veteran Caretakers Presented with John DeCarlo Award for Exemplary Service 

NYCHA Caretaker Angel Martinez can often be seen wearing a smile as he works each day to maintain a safe and clean environment for residents and employees at Smith Houses in Manhattan.  

Fellow veteran Caretaker Rebecca Miranda is well regarded for her customer service, which has helped make hers a familiar name among the residents of Manhattan’s Baruch Houses.   

The two employees were recently recognized for their exemplary service with the John DeCarlo Memorial Award. Named after a longtime NYCHA caretaker who lost his life while on duty at Brooklyn’s Marlboro Houses in 1997, the award is presented annually to outstanding caretakers with a minimum of five years of service.  

At a June 22 celebratory luncheon attended by Smith Houses staff, Mr. Martinez received this year’s award grand prize with a $1,000 check, while Ms. Miranda received the runner-up prize with a $500 check during a lunch with colleagues on June 16.  

Mr. Martinez is a Stapleton Houses resident who has worked as a caretaker throughout his 18-year career at NYCHA. After taking his first job on Staten Island in 2004, he has spent the past 17 years at Smith Houses, where he is well respected by coworkers and residents. Edwin Reyes, Smith Houses Property Manager, said Mr. Martinez is a “prime example” of how NYCHA employees should conduct themselves and perform their job duties.  

“Angel loves his job, and this is displayed daily,” Mr. Reyes said. “His coworkers will turn to him for advice on how to better perform their job duties, and he assists them with the completion of the task itself if needed. I can truly rely on him to complete a task that I give and rest assured that it was done correctly.”  

Praising the longtime caretaker’s work ethic and commitment to quality service, Mr. Reyes said Mr. Martinez has helped him become a better property manager.  

“He truly lives up to his name ‘Angel,’” Mr. Reyes stated. “We here at Smith Houses are truly blessed to have him here working alongside us.”  

Ms. Miranda started her NYCHA career 27 years ago as a city service aide at Douglass Houses in Manhattan. She has served for 19 years at Baruch Houses, where she often receives compliments from residents on her work, said Property Manager Stephan Yianh.  

“Her quality of work, dedication, and trustworthiness is unmatched,” the property manager said. “Her buildings and area are often used as examples of the standard in which other workers should strive for.”  

Along with her exceptional customer service, Ms. Miranda is relied upon by coworkers and beloved by residents, Mr. Yianh noted.  

“Beyond her work, she has engrained herself as part of this community and development,” he said.   

Photo caption: Grand prize winner Angel Martinez (center) was joined by Smith Houses colleagues to receive the John DeCarlo Memorial Award for 2022.