1. I am entering my 40th year at Siena as a carpenter/assistant supervisor of building trades.

I came here with intentions of taking classes, but my love of carpentry took over. I have no regrets at all. I received an education nonetheless thanks to the Siena community, and I met many good people and made lifelong friendships. 

2. Carpentry and woodworking has been my passion since learning the trade in high school and through the Rensselaer Boys Clubs carpentry program. I’ve had some good mentors.

3. When I was 11 years old, I was shot out of a cannon. WHAT?? Of course it was an illusion. I was in the Rensselaer Boys Club gymnastics program which had an annual circus that traveled the Capital District in the early 70s. It was the usual assortment of clowns, acrobats, and illusions. With the lights dimmed low, my twin brother was loaded into the cannon. A firecracker was used for the visual and sound effects. Meanwhile I was being lowered through a light fixture in the ceiling and placed on top of a backboard of a basketball hoop 50 feet away and approximately 20 feet off the ground. When the fire cracker exploded a spot light shined from the end the cannon and traveled to where I was sitting on the backboard. I waved to the crowd and listened to all to oohhs and aahhs. It was a pretty cool trick.

4. As mentioned I am a twin. We’re two of ten children, five boys and five girls, and I’m the youngest. Well, not quite. My twin brother is actually 10 minutes younger than I am, and he never lets me forget it. We also have another set of sibling twins who are 10 years older. God bless my parents.

5. I built my first house when I was 29 and resided there with my wife, Theresa (married for 36 happy years!) for 20 years before we decided to downsize. We rebuilt approximately 1,000 yards down the road.

6. My wife and I love camping and travel.  One of our most memorable trips was an Alaskan tour we took 10 years ago. Besides the beautiful landscape and wildlife we encountered, the history of the gold rush was very intriguing. (I did catch a bit of the gold fever!) We plan to do some oversea traveling when we retire, which is right around the corner.

7. I am an avid baseball/Yankees fan. My first Yankees game was in 1974 vs the Oakland A’s at Shea Stadium. Yankee Stadium was being renovated during the 1974-75 season. I’ve been a lifelong fan since I was a kid, but it was a divided household. Growing up, my family was split between Mets fans and Yankees fans. 

8. I still love playing baseball. I catch (best position in baseball) in the Capital District Men’s Senior Baseball over 30 league. I’m going on my 29th year! In the early winter months, we travel to Florida to play teams from Maine to Puerto Rico. I’ve named my three pets Tinkers, Evers and Chance. Baseball enthusiasts will get it.

9. I volunteer my time coaching baseball for the Westland Hills Little League.

10. I am a certified wedding officiant and have performed six weddings over the past eight years. All the marriages all still going strong!