Occupation: I'm the president of Avery Abrasives in Trumbull. We make abrasive cut-off wheels that are used by factories to cut metal tubing, like for golf club shafts.
Occupation: Iâm the president of Avery Abrasives in Trumbull. We make abrasive cut-off wheels that are used by factories to cut metal tubing, like for golf club shafts.
Family: My wife, Knettie, and I have been married since 1973.
Pets: Weâve got three dogs buried out behind the house and weâve been through at least 50 ducks, but right now we have no pets.
How long have you lived in Newtown? We moved here in 1986 from North Branford.
What do you like to do in your free time? I like to play tennis and golf, but I donât play as often as I should. I do enjoy those games when I have time, though. I read, and travel is a big thing in our lives.
Do you have a favorite book? Iâve read a lot of John Grisham, though one book doesnât really stand out. I like the action involved in his novels. And Iâm actually reading The Shack by William Young for the second time, to see if there were angles I had missed the first time I read it.
Do you have a favorite travel destination? Probably Italy, in the Tuscany region. Weâve been there the last two years with friends, staying in private villas. I donât think the geography of that area has changed much over the years. There are beautiful vistas. And the food is extraordinary. It is simple, but so fresh. The people of Italy are great, too.
What is the best thing about Newtown? I like the charm of the older homes. That is what brought us to Newtown â we loved the house we found here. It is still fairly rural, too, with lots of trees and wildlife running around.
Who do you most admire? I admire our volunteer armed forces, who know when they sign up that they will be going to Afghanistan to fight. I admire them immensely.
What is the craziest thing you have done? I went up over Cleveland in a plane called a âbreezyâ with my nephew, who is a pilot for Continental. You sit, strapped in with a harness, on a two by four, and the pilot sits below you. The wings are about three feet on either side, and itâs run by a very small engine. Itâs all wide open. It was pretty hairy. We also tracked down a rhinoceros on foot once, in Africa, with our guide. We got about ten feet away from it, and then backed really quietly awayâ¦.
Do you have a personal philosophy? Give everyone the benefit of the doubt. Be open-minded to other people, and donât make a big deal out of things not worth making a big deal out of. Life is short. People are generally good.
What makes you happiest? Being surrounded by friends who go way back, whether it is high school or college.