BACKGROUND: I was born in Sheboygan but grew up in Cedarburg. My family moved to Kansas City during my senior year of high school, and the woman who was to become my wife served as the Meeter and Greeter in my new homeroom. She did her job very well, and three years later, while I was in the Air Force, we married and headed off to Italy. Jan and I spent two wonderful years in sunny Southern Italy where I transcribed communications of Russian military pilots flying over what was then Yugoslavia.
EDUCATION AND WORK: We came back to MIlwaukee in the late 60’s. I returned to school under the GI Bill and Jan became a systems consultant. Yes, those were crazy times. I went in as a Math and Physics major with 40+ credits in Russian and left with a Master’s Degree in Social Work. In the early 80’s, I started a clinical practice in Thiensville with one of my former professors. Our specialty was working with mental health practitioners’ children and families, so there was never a shortage of clients. I stayed in private practice until I retired in 2011. I also had a great day job as a School Social Worker in Fox Point - Bayside which kept my family in health insurance.
If I were to do it all over again, I’d love to be able to repeat what I’ve done. Jan and I have two great kids, we’ve traveled to over 50 countries, hosted dozens of international guests and lived/traveled outside the US for about five years in total. Jan and I do not travel as tourists … no beaches, cruises, golf courses or 4/5-star digs. We try to travel as and with locals as much as possible. Most people we meet will never travel to the US and know only what they read, hear or assume about America. We always try to connect with people and humanize America for them.
MEMORABLE ROTARY EVENT: My greatest Rotary moment came in 2006 when I became our club’s Paul Harris recipient. I had only been a member for four years at that point and was blown away when my name was announced. A more private Rotary moment was when I was at a meeting in West Bend where my old friend Angie Rester talked about the difference between being a Member of Rotary and being a Rotarian. Having been to Guatemala four times at that point and serving as team leader twice, I realized that I was a Rotarian!!