Family: Helga, my wife; and I have a son, Charles, who lives in Philadelphia.

Pets: We have a cat.

How long have you lived in Newtown? 22 years now.

Career: I retired a couple of years ago, having spent my life in mechanical design. I also spent eight years with Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps.

What do you like to do with your free time? I’m a painter. I’ve been making pictures my whole life, but I refrain from calling myself an artist. I’m not Wyeth. That’s a different distinction. I’ve had my works on view a few times at the municipal center.

Do you have a favorite author? Neil Gaiman. I think I would read a shopping list if he wrote it. Also Terry Pratchett. He’s another favorite.

Who or what has been the biggest influence in your life? The four years I spent in the US Navy, in submarine service. Those years have influenced the rest of my life. So often, that experience still appears, especially when I need to be somewhere. The military takes a very dim view of running late, so I’m always running early.

If you could spend the day with one person, living or deceased, who would you choose and why? Theodore Roosevelt. I wrote papers about him at school, and read books about him, and the things he did, even before he was President, were amazing.

What is the most recent movie you have seen in the theater? Dune: Part One.

Favorite actor? Brian Keith.

Favorite movie genre? History.

Favorite musician? Bob Seger

Favorite music genre? 70s rock.

What is the most recent concert you’ve been to? The only concert I’ve ever been to, that wasn’t religious in nature, was Muddy Waters.

What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? No one is indispensable.

Do you have any pet peeves? Big stores without price tags. You have these huge warehouse places, with tons of items, and they don’t have things priced?

Favorite color? Green.

What is something you cannot live without? To quote Teddy Roosevelt, when he lost his wife and mother on the same day: “The light has gone out of my life.” My wife and I will be together 36 years on June 6. I couldn’t find anything without her. I couldn’t live without her, and peanut butter.

What is your proudest accomplishment? I’m still married. Also, my son grew up and moved out, and I’m still here. My father left when I was young, his father left when he was young, and so on. We broke that cycle. My son is in Philadelphia, but we’re still together.

What is your favorite travel destination? We don’t travel a lot but whenever I have a day, or a couple, I go back to Groton. There’s 51 miles of the Appalachian Trail in Connecticut, and I know every inch of that. This summer I’d like to make a loop, going up the Canadian border on my motorcycle, turn right, head to Maine, and then loop back down along the coast. I think that would be a great trip.

What is your favorite thing about Newtown? It doesn’t have a McDonald’s. There’s no Walmart here. To me it’s still a quiet place.

Do you have a personal credo? You win or lose by the way you choose.