How long have you worshiped at Saint Philip’s?
On and off since 1970. My wife, Barbara, and I have moved around but whenever we’ve lived in Tucson, we’ve been parishioners here.

Were you raised in a faith tradition?
My mother was from North Carolina and was very southern—and very Episcopalian from as far back as anybody knows. My father was Czech and brought up as a non-practicing Jew. But after he married my mother he became a devout Episcopalian.

I was brought up in Ridgewood, New Jersey, and went to St. Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church. That’s where I was baptized and confirmed, attended Sunday School, and was an acolyte.

What brought you to Tucson?
A road trip with a friend. During my junior year of high school, a friend and I rebuilt a car and drove it from Connecticut to California—along Route 66.

Our mothers gave us an address book with everyone they knew in different states. When we crossed a state line we would call and introduce ourselves. That often got us a meal and sometimes a bed. We did this for two months.

On our way back to Connecticut we stopped in Tucson. I remember parking on University Boulevard and walking around campus by myself. When I returned to the car I told my friend, “This is where I’m going to school. These are the prettiest girls I’ve ever seen!”

What did you do professionally before retiring?
I was a financial advisor—a fancy name for what used to be called a stock broker. Five years ago I turned 75 and decided I’d worked long enough so I retired.

What engaged you about the work?
The market and the art of managing people.

Because of work we left Tucson in 1989 and moved to San Francisco for five years. I served on the Vestry at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church.

While working you volunteered outside the church, right?
I did. There were several efforts I was involved with but one example is the Arizona Theater Company. In the early 1980s I was President and helped expand the nonprofit to Phoenix so it could survive.

How are you involved at Saint Philip’s?
I was on the Preservation & Endowment (P&E) Board for several years, including serving as its treasurer. I’m now on the Vestry.

What does Saint Philip’s mean to you?
It’s a big part of my life. All three children were very involved here. They went to Sunday school, were baptized and confirmed here. They were acolytes and they’ve all gotten married here.

Until recently, Barbara and I lived in a Joeslar house that we bought in 1979. The connection between our home and Saint Philip’s only adds to why the church is so special to me. It’s a living thing and we need to protect it so that it can survive and go on for other generations to be involved with. I feel very strongly about that.

I would like to explain something. Because Barbara and I attended the University of Arizona and have been here all our adult lives, we have a wide and active social life that often takes us outside the church community. You may not see us for every social activity here but that doesn’t mean the parish isn’t incredibly important to us.

What’s something you’re really passionate about?
My three daughters and four grandchildren. I’m as proud of them as I can be.

Our three daughters and the grandchildren who are in college—all of them left home to attend school. I think it’s important that kids go away, and I’m proud of them for doing that.

What’s something you’re excited to see Saint Philip’s doing?
I think the most important thing we’re doing is supporting the growth of the Children, Youth, and Family Ministries.

Helping young people understand religion and developing their faith sets kids in the right direction. Families can be disjointed in today’s world and the church helps bring them back together.

All this is why our upcoming capital campaign is so important. We need to ensure that this parish will be available to future generations.

How has your faith helped you?
I don’t wear my religion on my sleeve but I’ve had lots of challenges and my faith has brought me through all of them.

I had some career challenges that included big ups and downs. My faith helped get me through them.

And 14 years ago Barbara was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. She went through all sorts of treatments, including a stem-cell transplant that almost killed her. She’s in remission but we know the cancer can return and it would be harder to kill than the first time.

The treatments damaged her heart so for the last 13 years she’s also had to deal with procedures and problems related to that. Did I mention that she’s tougher than nails?

The right attitude and having faith is what I believe got us through all that. I don’t have another way to express what it is but when I come here on Sunday it’s a time for me to reflect and be thankful—and I am…so very much.

What’s something you’ve learned over the years?
I’ve learned that the world is a lot grayer than I once thought; things aren’t very black and white.

The older I get the less I know. It sounds like a cliché but that’s my experience.

What are some life lessons you’ve learned?
I’ve learned to let my kids fail, and not try to fix the problem. My natural reaction as a parent is to want everything to be good. I’ve learned that’s the wrong thing to do. Now I give advice only if I’m asked for it.

But the biggest lesson I’ve learned is to stop worrying about things I can’t do anything about. If you have a problem and ask me for help, I’ll do anything I can. But once I’ve done that, I won’t dwell on the problem long-term.

That was a hard thing to learn but it’s made my life much better.

What’s something that scares you?
What’s going on in America today. I’m terribly concerned about our divided we are.

All my life people have had different political positions but everyone was friends and could talk to each other. That’s no longer the case.

What’s something you’re grateful for?
Barbara is my best friend and we’re very, very lucky. We’ve had a spectacular life. I’m really blessed and happy.

What’s one of your super powers?
I’m a raging optimist and try to find a positive solution to a problem whenever possible. I try to find the best in people.

I learned this from my father. He was a textile engineer and came to America as a representative of a company back home in Czechoslovakia. But then Hitler invaded and he lost everything.

Almost overnight my father lost his job, country, and became a guy in New York City with only 25 cents in his pocket. Despite that he always remained positive.

What’s one of your guiding principles?
To be honest and upfront about what I do and what I say.

What’s something about you that friends have said they really appreciate?
That I care about other people and their success.

What’s something you haven’t done that you’d still like to?
I hope we might travel more. We were under house arrest for a few years because of Barbara’s illness and then COVID happened.

I’ve never been to Spain and Portugal but we have plans to go in just a few weeks. And I’d really like to go to South America.

What’s a fun fact about you?
One of my hobbies is buying and selling cars. I used to work on them but that’s beyond me now. I have an eclectic group and especially love the convertibles.

Last year I did the Copper State 1000 road rally. It’s a four day event where 1,000 vintage cars (1973 or older) drive 1,000 miles around Arizona.

I convinced Barbara to join me in a 1956 white Jaguar convertible. She was a great sport because it was four days of driving too fast with the top down. It was the best time I ever had! I want to do it again but Barbara has made clear I’ll need to find another co-driver.

What have I not asked that you would like people to know?
I’d like readers to know about the Center of Opportunity. A good friend, Humberto Lopez, is a self-made man who started this effort five years ago. He provided the seed money and it doesn’t receive any federal help.

The Center of Opportunity is a one-stop-shop designed to expedite people from homelessness to self-sufficiency. Pets are allowed, and a host of assistance is available from job and mental health counseling to medial help.

They treat people with dignity and have changed more than 1,500 lives since it started.