Occupation: I’m a retired teacher. I taught in Monroe and Fairfield and for 27 years at Danbury High School where I taught history. I have a bachelor’s degree from Southern Connecticut State Teachers College (now University) and did my graduate work at American University and New York University. Danbury High is a great place. I started riding horses when I helped out with the school’s horseback riding club. Then I joined an adult group and have been riding ever since.

How Long in Newtown: I have lived in Newtown for 35 years. I was born in Bridgeport and previously lived in Fairfield and Stratford. Except for military service, I have always lived within 30 miles of where I was born.

Biggest Change Seen in Town:  The rapid development. There are developments in places where I used to drive to that were empty fields. There are cars and people all over the place. 

Family: My wife, Ingrid, and I have been married for 36 years. 

Pets: We have three cats, Mustacio, Siegfried and Willy, and a horse named Cyrano.

Hobbies: I like to ride horseback, read, and do crossword puzzles.

Favorite Books and Authors: I like to read detective, crime or courtroom books. My favorite authors are Faye Kellerman, Robert Parker and J.A. Jance. They’re all good.

Favorite TV Shows: NYPD Blue, Once & Again, ER, The Practice and Law and Order.

Organizations:  The Newtown Bridle Lands Association and Newtown Bridle Lands Trust, Danbury Railroad Museum and AARP. I also help out leading horses or helping riders three days a week at Pegasus, which provides therapeutic riding for handicapped children. That’s a joy. The kids just love it. They love to trot. I kind of get choked up about it. I was involved in the International Special Olympics five years ago, and two of the kids from Austria stayed at our house. I also deliver food for Meals on Wheels and have served as the ringmaster for the 4-H Horse Show in Bethel for the past six years.

Favorite Vacation Spot: Germany. We exchange houses with someone there who wants to visit the United States. That’s the way to do it. We spend about four to six weeks in a small village on the Dutch border. We liked it so much the first time that we went back. We’ve made friends there. A car usually goes with it, so we take day trips. We also like St John in the Virgin Islands. We have been going there for a week every December since 1968. Our biggest decision is what beach do we go to today. I’ve seen a lot in northern Europe so we are mostly interested in meeting the people. We ride our bicycles and talk to everyone. When we went to Ireland, no one had ever exchanged houses there, but they welcomed us with open arms.

 Personal Philosophy: The Golden Rule, and be friendly with everyone. When I’m riding, I stop and talk with kids and let them pet my horse if they want to. If you’re friendly with someone, they will be friendly with you.