Untitled Document

September 2004

Dear Classmates,

At the risk of using what has now become an overused cliché, it is hard to believe that 35 years have gone by since high school graduation. Reading the “bios” of old friends rekindles memories of simpler times, and of the reality of how quickly time passes. Hearing of the loss of classmates I knew so well saddens me, and is a grim reminder that life is all too brief.

As I write this update, I am working to change a prior commitment that may prevent me from attending the reunion. I am hopeful that I will be able to see you all there. Since I enjoyed reading the biographies of other classmates, I thought you might enjoy reading a summary of my life’s experiences.

Since graduation, I lost contact with most of my high school friends. However, Ken Jacobsen and I have stayed close over the years, with a friendship that goes back to the third grade. Neither of us found the need to become “rebellious,” and we share a common respect and appreciation for the important things in life…. including the YANKEES and playing golf. While maturity and life’s experiences have contributed to personal growth, at heart I have not changed substantially from when you all knew me.

The College Years

At age 18, my family’s financial resources were modest, so I made the decision to attend OCCC. In high school, I always considered myself to be a good student, albeit I admit I could have worked a little harder. However, from the first day I walked into a college classroom, I realized that my high school education was excellent preparation. The teachers at Monroe-Woodbury provided a strong foundation, especially in English and Math. We are fortunate to be the product of professional and dedicated educators.

The two years at OCCC passed quickly. I graduated at the top of my class and went on to New York University on full scholarship as part of a newly created honors program. I majored in Management and Industrial Relations at NYU and graduated first in my major and 5 th overall.

Career Years

My working years have, for the most part, been successful and rewarding. Although there have been a few “bumps in the road,” I am fortunate to have had success in several diverse endeavors. For the last 30+ years, I held senior level positions with both large and small companies. My responsibilities ranged from manufacturing operations to procurement to international marketing. Among the companies I worked for are Avon, American Cyanamid, Alliance Capital, and Smith Barney. In addition, I spent several years as a management consultant working with construction and small manufacturing companies. For the past 20+ years, I provided “ghost writing” services for business presentations, correspondence, and formal proposals.

In the spirit of community service, I held public office for 15 years. I was elected in the Tuxedo School District as school board president, and later was elected Town Supervisor. Along with the core responsibilities of these positions, I also led initiatives for blocking state efforts to consolidate the school district, successfully presented a plan to the Governor for an alternative approach for development of group homes for the mentally disabled, represented the town in working with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to shut down and decommission a nuclear reactor, led the town in forcing the state to close and remediate a toxic dump site, successfully challenged the state on the equalization formulas used to calculate land values, and presided over the process for a major planned development.

Along with work and public service, I always found time to participate in my children’s interests. I think I enjoyed managing Little League Baseball as much as my son enjoyed playing. I always made sure that all of the players learned the fundamentals and gained an appreciation for team play. When one of my players was stricken with leukemia and could not play, I made him my bench coach and taught him how to keep statistics and give signs to players. His parents said being part of the team helped in his recovery…it gave new meaning to why I devoted my time and effort, as well.

These days, I am an avid golfer and continue to enjoy team sports.

Family

My wife, Nancy, and I met before my senior year in high school. We married in the fall of 1972, and recently celebrated our 32 nd anniversary. Nancy works in the Guidance Department of our local school, and has helped many young people to focus on their educations. From college searches to personal issues, she positively impacts the lives of many young people.

In 1975, our daughter, Shelly, was born. From the beginning, Shelly was the center of attention. She excelled academically, and possessed the poise and drive that left no room for failure. While she was preparing for college, she announced that she was going to pursue a career in broadcast journalism. We did not take her seriously at the time, but she was very serious. While in college, she was an exceptional writer, and used her communications skills to land a job on local cable TV interviewing people on a variety of subjects. Following graduation, she became a news anchor at a TV station in Watertown, NY and then in Rochester. She is now the head anchor for WOFL – FOX News in Orlando, Florida.

In 1979, our son Joe was born. I was never one to impose my will on others, but I have to admit he had his first “real” baseball glove when he was only two days old. His team loyalties were instilled before he could walk (Yankees, of course). With the strong example set by his sister, Joe was an exceptional student and athlete. He was the valedictorian of his class and went on to study finance at the University of Notre Dame. After graduation from Notre Dame, he worked three years in Chicago and New York as a financial analyst. He recently began a new assignment at ESPN as a Senior Financial Analyst. He also writes a sports analysis column for a fantasy baseball website, and is a frequent guest on a Boston sports talk radio show.