My Story

At 7, I discovered my second great love and started singing in a church choir, spending nearly four decades as a church musician, including many years as a choir director and cantor. I continue to think of myself as a song and dance man at heart — a baritone/tenor — and many of my life decisions have been based on music.

I enrolled in Providence College to earn two majors and acknowledge professional reality. To nurture my soul, I studied Music History and Theory. My other major, Computer Science, addressed my practical needs. I also minored in Western Civilization, so it was a busy four years.

After graduating I took a job as a bank teller but told the HR manager I would only work for a year. That would give me the time to raise enough money to go on tour with Up With People, a non-profit group that promotes peace through understanding. A year exploring the world taught me about myself and different cultures and let me develop new friendships. Much of my personal growth occurred during discussions with cast friends and while sharing the homes of more than 70 host families. The music, the travel, the community service we performed between shows, all gave me a world perspective that shapes my work with clients today.

Following that experience I worked in a couple of bank IT departments for 28 years, broken up only by a trip around the world. (I did say I love to travel.) That adventure began at Westchester Airport flying west to JFK! Stops included Alaska, Hawaii, Japan, India and Amsterdam. I landed back at JFK 45 days later and stayed in New York City an extra day to sing at my aunt’s funeral. She had passed away while I was in India. 

During this time period I also made nine trips to Lourdes, France escorting a group of pilgrims seeking healing and leading the music program with the Knights and Dames of Malta.  Other pilgrimages over the years included Israel, Rome, Ireland, Greece, and Turkey where I was for 9/11/2001.

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And for 30 years you could find me at the Ridgefield Theater Barn, doing everything from singing and dancing, improv, and serving many years as president of the board and the first executive director. Then I left the banking world, and the Theater Barn, to concentrate on my next act.