The Faces of Middle Class America [Updated]

UPDATE: After running this article in January, Ralph Potenzone has returned to the workforce. He will be holding a contract position at Fidelity in Merrimack New Hampshire. The job will require Ralph to commute 60 miles each way but the Potenzones are hoping this will lead to a full time position. For now, they say they are extremely happy that Ralph will be working again.

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Ralph and Jackie Potenzone were living the American dream; a two-income household, three kids and a business that Jackie was able to run from home. That all changed three months ago when Ralph lost his 17-year job with Fidelity Investments throwing his family, and his future, into a tailspin.

“I was let go when the Marlborough office of Fidelity closed,” Ralph Potenzone said. “I was an applications programmer and when the company relocated there was no place for me.”

Potenzone was offered a generous severance package , but still not enough to keep his family of  five afloat when the three to six months of savings runs out.

“It’s been stressful,” Jackie Potenzone said. “It’s gotten to the point where we cannot mention daddy not working in front of our 8-year-old son . Instead, we tell him daddy has retired.”

Ralph is in a Catch-22  needing to either retrain or find a job in his field.

“I have two options,” he said. “Find a job in the field I’ve been working or retrain. Neither is a good option as retraining takes time and puts me on the bottom of the totem poll, and there aren’t jobs out there in my field right now.”

The Potenzones are fortunate that Jackie is working, and has built up a loyal following over the years.

“I am a hairdresser,” she said. “I work right her in my home, I get to be with the kids, I have terrific clients and I can make a living. That having been said, Ralph was the breadwinner.”

Ralph, a great cook,  would love to open a restaurant, but that is a risk and an expense.

“I cannot risk throwing our savings into such a venture without knowing if it would work. I also don’t know how you can start another business without a job and money. Our bills don’t go away.”

Another problem many middle class, middle aged Americans are facing is their spot in the hierarchy.

“Most of us are established," Ralph said. “We have families, we’ve acquired skills over the years and we don’t have the ability to go back and start over again without risk and time.”

Time the Potenzones don’t have with a mortgage to pay, mouths to feed and college tuition.

“I always took health care and life insurance for granted,” Jackie said. “Now, I pay Ralph’s life insurance out of pocket, and COBRA (the required health care) will go up from $500 to $1500 per month after Ralph’s severance runs out. That’s another mortgage.”

Ralph wants President Obama to know that we need sustainable jobs in America.

“I am specialized and companies aren’t hiring,” he said. “It’s not personal. Companies have to make a bottom line also, and I don’t believe anyone is singled out. We need to get jobs back into this country - not minimum wage jobs or hard labor -  but real work that folks like me can do. “

Relocating is an option, but with Jackie established here, it would mean her losing time to re-establish a clientele, likely leaving them short on her paycheck.

“It’s expensive to live in Hopkinton," Jackie said. "When we were doing well, I took it for granted, and now, well, I know better.”

Jackie and Ralph Potenzone remain optimistic.

“I remain a very positive, upbeat guy,” Ralph said. “I believe something will come along. Unemployment has been very helpful, Fidelity gave me a wonderful package and they’ve provided me with great service in getting restarted. I know it’s not personal.”

Ralph and Jackie are happy to share more of their story and/or their resumes. Contact Jackie and Ralph Potenzone at Jackieandcompany@verizon.net.