How long have you worshiped at Saint Philip’s?
My wife, Sally, and I began attending in 2008 for about six months each year. We were snowbirds until 2020 so it’s only since then that we’ve been year-round parishioners.

Were you raised in a faith tradition?
There was a single church (American Baptist) in the New Jersey town where I grew up. That’s where my family would go when we attended church.

How did you find your way to the Episcopal Church?
I married an Episcopalian! But before that, whenever I traveled for business, I always went to the local Episcopal Church because I appreciated that its liturgy follows a structured format that is the same from church to church.

What about Saint Philip’s appeals to you?
First of all, the people. This is a church filled with the most talented people I’ve ever known. And then there’s the music which drew both Sally and me in.

What makes you feel a part of this community?
I sang in the choir until COVID so the weekly rehearsals, concerts, and special events formed some very strong relationships. For several years I was also Chair of the original Music Commission called Friends of Music. In addition, I served on the Vestry and was a delegate to the diocesan convention several times.

How do you volunteer now?
I sing in the summer choir but my primary focus is the Finance Committee.

Is there anything as a Finance Committee member that you’d like parishioners to know?
Saint Philip’s does a lot of Outreach in soft, non-tangible ways that aren’t necessarily reflected in the budget.

One example is the space we provide for the 12-step meetings that meet on campus every week. (There are more than 20 groups weekly.) We rent the rooms at lower rates than the market standard. We do that to support the members of these groups.

What did you do professionally before you retired?
I was an officer in the Army Signal Corps for 22 years.

But my primary career was with what used to be the Bell System (New England Telephone Company, then NYNEX, then Bell Atlantic, and now Verizon).

My role in that department was Chief Engineer for Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. There were a lot of fun projects with that job. But because I managed the capital budget, I ended up as Vice President for Regulatory Operations for the state of Maine. In that role I spent a lot of time as a witness in court hearings dealing with rates and other regulatory issues.

Did you learn anything from that experience?
I was considered a very good witness because I was honest. I always told the truth—no matter how nervous I might be about the consequence. That served me well in court—and in life.

How do you relax?
I like gardens. Sally designs the space, and we both do the planting. I handle the digging, weeding, mowing etc.

Back in New Hampshire we had a very large garden that made it into the Smithsonian Institute. We parlayed that into hosting several fundraisers.

Here in Tucson we have a small patio garden. But even though it’s small, my work is ongoing because Sally keeps moving the plants around!

I also try to swim every day.

Do you have a hobby?
I love woodworking. We just finished making a 13 room doll house. It took a lot of work so now it’s behind museum quality plexiglass to keep kids’ fingers and dust out of it. The Mini Time Museum has said it would like the house but right now Sally and I enjoy it.

What’s something you’re passionate about?
Traveling. Two of our most favorite spots are Germany and France. Sally speaks French so we once enjoyed three weeks there. The food was marvelous!

And I spent four years in Germany as a signal officer in the Army so it’s a special place for me. I still remember the time we spent six to eight weeks in the Bavarian town, Oberammergau. We would go cross-country skiing and then head to Austria for lunch. It was magical.

What’s something you’re proud of?
My pretty constant engagement with choruses. I started singing in junior high and was part of my high school chorus. I auditioned for, and was accepted to, the all-state Chorus and later the all-Eastern Chorus. In college, I was President of the Glee Club.

As an adult, I put together concert tours every three years for the (New Hampshire) Monadnock Chorus. We traveled to Germany, France, and other European countries.

What’s something you find challenging?
Finding time to read. I enjoy books about science or birds—non-fiction that I can learn from.

What’s something you know now that your younger self didn’t?
The importance of Church.

When I attended church as a youngster, things were simple: we learned basic Bible stories and sang simple songs. But as I matured and became more involved with the various churches to which I belonged, I realized that being involved with church and a faith community is a two-way street.

First of all, Scripture began to have meanings for me that have evolved, and, in turn, helped my connections to others to become deeper.

Secondly, as I became a tad older, I realized that there were skills and talents that I could use to support the church and its fine people. For instance I have been a church treasurer, have always sung in a choir, and have organized a number of church committees.

What’s one of your core values?
Be helpful. I learned the golden rule in Sunday school and it’s always stuck with me. It makes me feel good when I can help people.

What’s one of your guiding principles?
I like to work and work hard. I guess my mantra is “Do it right the first time.” That saves a lot of energy ultimately.

What’s something you’re grateful for?
My ability to tinker and find solutions to problems. My father helped me get one of the best jobs I ever had.

During high school summers I worked for a small heating and air conditioning company. I learned how to install a gas furnace, how to work with sheet metal, how to address different plumbing issues, and how to do some electrical work.

Because of those skills I learned I’ve been able to help fix friends’ and neighbors’ problems.

What’s something about you that friends have said they really appreciate?
Friends and neighbors call me The Wiz because they say I’m a wizard who can fix most anything.

What’s something you’d like to do that you haven’t yet?
I’d love to learn how to fly. I took lessons in the past but never got off the ground.

What might people be surprised to learn about you?
That, as much as I love to sing, I also play string bass and was in a Dixieland cover band for a long time. My bass is named Big Bertha and both of us are open to invitations to play!