When Hastings resident Jimmy Gibbons first arrived in the U.S. in 1959 from county Mayo in Ireland, he lived on 90th Street and Third Avenue for a year and a half. Little did he know that this would be only two blocks from the building where he would work for over 20 years, eventually being recognized for his service with the 2008 Eastside Doorman of the Year Award.

Gibbons, 71, had a hard time believing he was chosen as the year’s best doorman on the East Side of Manhattan for the second Building Service Workers of the Year Awards, presented by his union, SEIU Local 32BJ, and Manhattan Media. Gibbons has been the friendly and helpful face signing for packages, getting taxicabs and carrying groceries for residents of 1120 Park Avenue, where co-ops have sold for $11 million, since 1988.

His son, Robert Gibbons, was the first to give him the news only a few days before the Oct.2 award ceremony. “I really didn’t believe him,” the elder Gibbons says. “There are so many doormen down there. I figured that it would be someone from one of the bigger house, where they have twice as many people.”

It wasn’t until the building’s superintendent, James Rauscher, who nominated Gibbons for the award, told him that he finally realized he was the East Side’s Doorman of the Year. “They said, ‘Jimmy you got it.’ so from there on I was believing it.” And when he did, “It really felt good,” says Gibbons with a chuckle, and glimmer in his smiling Irish eyes.

According to Lynsey Krywick, communications manager for Local 32BJ, “Mr. Gibbons’ hard work and dedication brought him a record number of nominations from building tenants, family members and co-workers.”

Some of the nominations from tenants described Gibbons: “He is a ray of sunshine every time he greets you.” Another tenant explained that, “Our family cannot imagine a day without Jimmy! Such a smile and genuine care of all the tenants in the building, but our 2-year-old daughter is crazy about him!” They added that, “We are soooooo lucky to have him and his protective eye at 1120 park.”

Gibbons attributes the number of nominations to his personality – “I’m friendly. I think that’s the main thing.” Which explains why Gibbons takes so much pleasure in “chewing the fat,” with the building’s tenants while working Wednesday to Sunday, from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. “I always like to talk. ‘Yapper’ as I call myself.” He told the Enterprise that he truly enjoys working at the building, since the tenants, and other building employees treat him so kindly and respectfully.

When there is bad weather, some have invited Gibbons, who drives into Manhattan, to stay the night with them. When working a double shift, residents usually ask Gibbons if he wants a bite to eat. What touched Gibbons most was when a couple in the building brought him a congratulatory cake for winning the award. “Rich people like this having a piece of sweet cake right there in the basement with me. That was very big to me,” Gibbons says, his eyes all lit up.

Aside from this chitchats with residents, Gibbons is responsible for making sure the proper people enter and leave the building, taking care to maintain a professional attitude. Even when letting Caroline Kennedy or Walter Cronkite into the building. “It’s a normal thing [seeing celebrities], but you don’t get out of place. Sometimes they don’t want to be recognized,” Gibbons explains.

However, his most important role is making sure the tenants feel safe. “They depend on you to take care of their house or apartment. To make sure no one goes up and robs them,” Gibbons says. “Sometimes of they go out and aren’t sure if the left the stove on, I’ll go up and check it for them. So they depend on you quite a bit.”

On Oct. 2, Gibbons was among 15 other building service workers from all around New York City to be honored for making their buildings safe and comfortable. Gibbons, his wife Margaret of 48 years, has five children – Mary Gardiner of Larchmont, James of Yonkers, and Patricia, Michael, and Robert Gibbons, who all live in Hastings, his nine grandchildren, and some of his building tenants all celebrated at the fancy gala held on the 22nd floor of 101 Avenue of the Americas. Though Gibbons has been in a number of New York City buildings, he says, “I have never been that up before, I was looking down at the Big Apple, it was so beautiful.”

After delivering a short, sweet, and well-received speech to the 500 guests, among them prestigious journalists jimmy Breslin and Gabe Pressman, Gibbons said, “It was really a big night and quite an honor. I was on Cloud 9.”

The honorees were each given a glass apple inscribed with their award title and name. Gibbons’ apple sits on top of the family piano in the lower level of their Hastings home, where they have lived for almost 40 years. The black-framed certificate, given to all awardees, has yet to be hung because “We have to find the perfect spot,” as Gibbons’ wife insists.

When he’s not on the job, Gibbons can be found working on his tomatoes, basil or mint plants in his backyard garden, or walking eight times around Reynolds Field track. He sees this as crucial, “If you don’t your feet won’t be able to carry you around.”

Gibbons says: “That’s one more reason I like to go to work. I can walk to the corner to get a taxi, and walk back. It keeps you in shape.” And he will keep on doing this – hailing cabs and toting packages for the rich and sometimes famous – for as long as his health permits, even though he can retire whenever he pleases. “I can’t stay around the house – it’s not really for me. I have two days off. It’s enough!”