I was raised here in Frederick County; my wife was as well. I joke with people that we are the only two kids raised here and never left!
Q: Please tell us a little bit about your family.
I have been happily married to my lovely wife for 31 years. Our children grew up in New Market and are blessed to have our daughter and son-in-law living right down the street from us. We have three grandkids that live in South Carolina with our son and his wife that we visit as often as we can.
Q: Please tell us about your current, past, or future career. What do you love most about what you do?
I took an early retirement in 2016 after working in the electrical industry for 37 years in Washington, DC. After volunteering at my church for many years, retirement led to an opportunity to be on staff as a music leader. Though not leading every week in a large church, you can still find me at Fairview Chapel in the summer months as part of their Fresh Start service music rotation. My main focus now is playing “Familiar and Forgotten Tunes” at local restaurants and vineyards in our area. I have met some wonderful people from all over the country and am thankful that I am still playing venues after all of these years.
Q: How long have you lived or worked in our community?
My wife and I have lived in New Market since 1993.
Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in our community?
Wow, that is a really tough question because there are so many great people I have met, living and deceased, that contribute to the fabric of our community.
Q: What advice would you give to people?
Don’t sit on the sidelines no matter how long you have lived here. Be involved in some way in the town that we call our home.
Q: What is something on your bucket list?
Perhaps a trip through the Canadian Rockies by train or a bungalow over the water in some exotic place.
Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about our community?
For me it is the familiarity of “home” and knowing someone almost anywhere I go.
Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?
My wife and I love to travel, and we hope to still be doing that.
Q: (Even for friends or family), what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
My wife and I are volunteers at Frederick Health Hospice. I play music at the Kline House most Fridays as part of their comfort music program. Also, my wife and I put together a monthly video called “In The Woods” that a few folks “subscribe” to. We have a few cameras in our woods to capture what goes on at night here in New Market with the wildlife. It is amazing some of the things we have witnessed.
Q: What is the most beautiful place you have ever been?
Aruba or Turks and Caicos Islands
Q: Favorite month? favorite holiday? and best single day on the calendar?
October – Christmas – My Anniversary, January 15th
Q: What would you rate a 10 out of 10?
My family and friends.
Q: What person, event or experience has made the greatest impact or inspiration in your life?
A great question that I have thought about as I get older. There are several people who have made me who I am today. Of course, my faith in God, my parents, my wife and kids. But the others I made a point to go back later in life and tell them in person, if they were still living, how they impacted me. I found that they were unaware and taken aback of the profound impact that they had in shaping who I am.
Q: If you could choose anyone that is alive today and not a relative; with whom would you love to have lunch? Why? And where locally would y’all meet for this lunch?
There is no one person that stands out.
Q: Finally, what 3 words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
Warmth, Family, Acceptance
