Doorperson of the Month: Gerald Gresham, Powhatan Apartments

Gerald Gresham has served the residents of Powhatan Apartments faithfully for 15 years—a career that has earned him fans both young and old. 

One of Gresham’s biggest supporters is 9-year-old resident Nina Saratovsky, who appreciates how Gresham helps get “everything and everyone on track.” In a letter to the Chicago Star, Saratovsky noted as she waits for her ride to school each morning, Gresham “is kind and friendly to all our visitors and at the same time [they] chat and laugh together.”

At the Powhatan, which was built in 1920 and holds landmark status, Gresham is in charge of a 13-person staff, “all fully vaccinated.” He said the age of the building presents unique circumstances. There are still elevator operators at the Powhatan, and one of the biggest challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic was keeping the elevators staffed and operating the building itself with “only a skeleton crew.” Another issue is the lack of cell phone service in the lobby due to the age of the building and the Art Deco style.

The Powhatan is situated in the vintage Hyde Park neighborhood, which features everything from small art museums to the Museum of Science and Industry. Gresham said residents are looking forward to the completion of the Obama Presidential Center and Library. 

Gresham said his major strength is his outgoing personality. Before joining the Powhatan, he managed a Dollar Store. He and his wife, an eighth-grade teacher at Chicago Public Schools, live in Chicago. They have a son who graduated from DePaul University and works as an engineer in Davenport, Iowa.

To nominate your favorite doorperson, email info@Chicagostarmedia.com with their name and why they should be the doorperson of the month. Winners will receive a $25 gift card to Mariano’s.

Nina's Letter

Editor’s Note: The following letter was written by 9-year-old Powhatan Apartments resident Nina Saratovsky and submitted by her grandfather, Richard D Penn:

Hi, I’m Nina Saratovsky. I’m nine years old and I live in the Powhatan building in Hyde Park, Chicago. My grandfather and I would like to nominate Gerald Gresham for best doorman in Chicago. While there are many great doormen in our building, Gerald is special. He is the head doorman for our building which means he gets everything and everyone on track, especially in the morning. I know this because I see it almost every morning when I am waiting for my carpool to pick me up for school. He’s in and out of the door, he’s kind and friendly to all our visitors, and at the same time he and I chat and laugh together. He is also in charge of training our new employees in the building and he teaches them well while still getting other work done. It’s clear Gerald cares about me and all my fellow residents for many different reasons. He always calls us by our names even though we have lots of people in the building and he even gave my brother and me Christmas presents. We all care about Gerald too. Those are just a few of the reasons why he should be best doorman of the month.