Meet Anton Dedvukaj

As part of the Facilities Management engineering team, Anton Dedvukaj serves as our West Campus building manager and is responsible for managing all CUIMC buildings west of Fort Washington avenue. His hot take is that Washington Heights has the BEST arroz con pollo. We found Anton's story is particularly compelling and hope you do, too.

Who has made the biggest impression on you during your time here?

Barbara Ruiz. She gets everything done, and is the nicest person in the world. She can do everything and doesn’t ask for much. I have never heard her complain. She encompasses the idea of Columbia. She is competent and willing to help everyone, never judges, and does not bring her ego to work.

What is your favorite thing about your current role?

It’s not in the box. I was the first building manager here. I like the fact that I am overseeing multiple things as opposed to one department.

What are your hidden talents?

I can build just about anything. In 2010, I built a motorcycle for an international competition and won 18th place in the world. I was proud of that because everyone else was a professional while I was just a hobbyist. I own 4 motorcycles and my favorite one is the American Indian. One of my paintings was featured in the Metropolitan Museum in 1977. I painted King Tut, won state competition and they put the painting up in the Met. I built a house for my family and it was the first wooden house in Montenegro. There is a beautiful 24-foot fountain in the front. Carbon fiber is my forte, I don’t want to use materials that will rust. We weren’t allowed to have toys as kids and when you can’t have toys, you build stuff. You build an ark, you pick a wheel from the garbage here, handlebar there and you put together a bicycle and keep it hidden because you’re not allowed to have bicycles. Painting is a natural talent, also. My sister and daughter are also great painters.

What brings you joy/something that makes you smile?

When I see my kids on vacation on my grandparent’s land.

What advice would you give to your younger self?

Absolutely nothing. I believe in the butterfly effect. I have a great life, great kids, great wife. My siblings voted to sell a few buildings we owned, I told them not to because I thought they’d regret it. They definitely regretted it. But changing anything in the past will most likely change who you end up meeting today and how your life unrolls and I wouldn’t want to chance it.

What superpower would you choose for yourself?

Healing people.

Do you have a funny CUIMC story?

Last Christmas, I was called in at 2 a.m. because of multiple floods. Dr. Rudi [Odeh-Ramadan] saw me soaking wet. She came back a few minutes later with a new pair of warm dry socks, The socks said “Merry Christmas from Columbia.”  It wasn’t exactly what I was wishing for, but it was super special.

What is something that people would be surprised to learn about you?

I lived in a refugee camp for a few years.

What is your most memorable CUIMC moment?

When Dean Goldman asked to take a picture of me because I built a bike for the Velocity race.