In 1947, Sylvia joined the law firm Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton. She was only the third employee the firm ever hired.
Back then, a secretary did far more than type letters.
"She was a secretary in an era when they ran their boss' lives, including their personal investments."
— Jane Lockshin, her niece
Her bosses were wealthy lawyers. When one of them wanted to buy a stock, Sylvia was the one who placed the order.
And then she placed one more.
"So when the boss would buy a stock, she would make the purchase for him, and then buy the same stock for herself, but in a smaller amount because she was on a secretary's salary."
— Jane Lockshin
She did it again and again. For decades.
And she never changed the way she lived. Same apartment. Same subway. Same desk.
Nobody noticed.