We salute a Marine Corps Colonel as he retires from Merrill after a whopping 57 years | Inside Out

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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Deciding when to retire can be one of the most difficult career decisions an individual will make — and intensified if your professional career has spanned decades. For some, it conjures images of unlimited vacation time, leisurely strolls on the beach and free time to indulge in whatever makes them happy. It makes the decision easy.

Thomas Pristavec will attest to that — with special emphasis on the time span. You see, Pristavec’s career spanned a whopping 57 years.

But in February of this year he made that ultimate decision and retired from Merrill — previously branded Merrill Lynch, an investment management and wealth management division of Bank of America. Pristavec joined the firm in 1964 and has served as a financial advisor for the community of Staten Island since 1977.

HERE’S PRISTAVEC’S AMAZING STORY

Born in Newark, Pristavec’s family relocated to Forest City, Pa., then to Cliffwood Beach, N.J., but he’s now settled in a home near the Historic Richmond Town Restoration.

After graduating from St. Mary’s High School in Perth Amboy in 1957, where he was named “Athlete of the Year,” in 1961 he earned a bachelor of arts degree from Villanova University where the popular student was an integral part of the school’s baseball team.

Pristavec was commissioned in United States Marine Corps as a second lieutenant upon graduation and after three years of active duty as an Infantry Platoon Commander, he joined the firm of Merrill Lynch in Manhattan in 1964.

“I joined the firm in 1964 and have been there for 57 years,” he noted in a recent conversation. But after three years of active duty in the Marine Corps, in less than a year I went back into the reserves for another 27 years and retired as a colonel.”

Interestingly, during his US Marine Corps Reserves career he was an officer in charge of six different units with a total of 30 years of service.

As a member of the United States Marine Corps Reserves Pristavec recalls one of his definite career highlights was the day he shook the hand of the late General Colin Powell at a Merrill manager’s meeting.

“In 1977 I was asked to open the Merrill Lynch Staten Island office and I served as the manager and financial advisor for the next 25 years,” Pristavec noted, before explaining with pride that his son, Paul, began working for him 30 years ago.

PRISTAVEC’S PERSONAL LIFE

Son Paul and his wife, Dana, who call Tottenville home, are the parents of six children, twins, James and John, 5, Farrah 10, Melania 12, Paul Francis, 14 and Vanessa, 16.

And as he reminisced for a bit, the elder Pristavec recounted he married Patricia Cather in 1969 and the couple were married for 45 years until her passing seven years ago.

After 50 years, Prisavec recently reconnected with Gloria Tapson, a girl he dated off and on in high school and college who also attended St. Mary’s High School.

EARLY YEARS

Pristavec was a founding Resident Director of the Staten Island Merrill office from its opening in 1977 until 1999. And during his tenure at at Merrill, for his Herculean efforts, he was presented with more than 75 Recognition Awards.

Amazingly, breaking records, he never missed a day of work and never took a sick day. Excluding business trips, he reported to work every day.

Pristavec’s legacy now carries on with his son, who leads his client base.

Throughout the years Pristavac served as a trustee of St. Patrick’s R.C. Church in Richmond, not far from where he currently maintains a home.

He also was on the board of directors of myriad organizations, including the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce.

An avid outdoorsman, in his retirement he plans to spend his time hunting, fly-fishing, skiing and golfing.

According to Anu Ahluwalia, Bank of America senior vice president, at the conclusion of every email, Pristavec would close with, “Honor, Courage, Commitment,” which embodies Pristavac’s belief of duty to his country, and self,” he notes.

“Following in Tom’s footsteps is an honor,” said Christopher Viggiano, a colleague and vice president. “His ability to persevere through multiple market ‘up and down’ cycles is a testament to his fortitude. It’s appropriate the markets aligned near all-time highs to enable for a proper, symbolic send-off into retirement.”

The Staten Island office of Merrill is located at 900 South Avenue in Bloomfield.

CELEBRATIONS – MARCH 27 TO APRIL 2

MARCH 27

Happy birthday Sunday to former Congresswoman Susan Molinari, to Jake Hanley, Pete Falcone, Lisa Ann (Lordo) Muzio, Dr. Joseph D. (Joedy) Smith, Hailey Foley, who turns 14, Charles Anthony Taylor and Brian Finn.

And happy birthday to the Staten Island Advance, now entering its 137th year.

MARCH 28

Monday is birthday time for Kelsey Lynn Welle, Jessie Schwartz, Steven Larson turns 19, Cathy Driscoll and twins Alyssa and Kristin Mastromarino.

Monday is wedding anniversary time for Joyce and Michael Pelle.

MARCH 29

Birthday greetings Tuesday to Irene Keenan, Stella Balsamini, Vincent DeBiase, who turns 14, Michael Mignone, Maureen Collins, Olga O’Connell and Elizabeth Romano.

MARCH 30

Birthday best Wednesday to Jonathan Newhouse, Sean Foley, who’s 58, Betty ‘Belle’ Crimoli, Michael Dauphin, Tamara Bellamo, Sean Kelly and Mary Pietrocola, who turns 86.

MARCH 31

The happiest of birthdays Thursday to Tom Flannagan, Jeanine Long, Josef Prashker, AnnMarie Reindl of New Springville, turns 44, Frank Calabro, Jennifer Michele Benevento, Tricia Roberts, Barbro (Bunny) Lewand is now 92, Tom Carnesecchi and John Erik Lorentzen.

APRIL 1

Happy birthday Friday to Terrance DeForest, Paul Drabczyk, Barbara DeSantis, Steven Buckley and Camille Baumwoll.

Happy wedding anniversary Friday to Thanh and Ivar Betten.

APRIL 2

The best of birthdays Saturday to Teri Russo, an Advance Woman of Achievement, Class of 1988, Dr. Mohammad Khalid, an Eltingville dentist and president of the Iron Hills Civic Association and the Pakistani Civic Association, John Morel, Jamie Lynn Seton, Jillian Persch, John Elliott, Christopher Edward Ruocco, Stephanie DeStefano, James Davis, Kevin Mione and Sandra Bumbalo.