Occupation: I’m retired, originally from the weekly newspaper business in Illinois. My grandfather was the oldest publisher in the state at the age of 91, and had also been in the business the longest — over 70 years — at that time. After I graduated from college with a degree in journalism, I had a weekly paper. Then I spent the rest of my career in the printing industry, in sales management, in New York City, Atlanta, and Phoenix, but always moving back to Connecticut. You grow up in the newspaper business, and I think you always have ink in your blood. I still love the craft.

Family: My wife, Leona, and I have been married for 55 years. We have three boys, Mark in New Milford; Craig in California; and Kevin is in Sandy Hook. We have eight grandchildren, and recently we celebrated my mother’s 95th birthday. She lives in Chapel Hill, N.C. I have a sister, Linda, in North Carolina, too.

How long have you lived in Newtown? We moved here in June of 1995, so we have been here for 16 years.

What do you like to do in your free time? I golf about three times a week, and I love photography. I’m a past president of Flagpole Photographers and a member of Candlewood Camera Club. I’ve been a member of both clubs for about ten years. I grew up in photography, and I photographed the US Open Men’s Golf Championship five times. Now, I do landscapes and portraiture, and I love shooting sports. We like to go to the theater, and try to go to Broadway two or three times a year.

Do you have a favorite Broadway play? Probably Phantom of the Opera. We’ve seen it three times, including once in London. I love the music and the story.

Do you have a favorite travel destination? We got to Vermont a lot. We built a log home there 26 years ago. We want to do more foreign traveling. We’ve been to Europe three times and hope to get back. I would love to go to New Zealand, for the photography, of course.

What is the best thing about Newtown? The Newtown Bee. I think the seven by-lined reporters for this paper do an outstanding job of covering the news in Newtown. I think the news coverage in a suburban community of this size is one of the best that exists in the country. Beyond that, the fact that The Bee opens up its pages for letters to the editor, apparently without restriction, is exemplary. I do get a little disheartened by the negativity in some of the letters, though.

What is the most noticeable change in town? Certainly, early on when I moved here, there was a lot of development. And of course, there are the additions to the schools that have taken place since we moved to Newtown.

Who do you most admire? My wife, and my mother. My wife served as a church musician — she’s a pianist and an organist — for over 50 years, wherever we lived. She was dedicated to the service, and never interested in remuneration or performance. And my mother, Eleanor Brooks, is 95 years old and still plays golf.

Do you have a personal philosophy? Keep your sense of humor. Don’t sweat the small stuff — and it’s all small stuff.

What makes you happiest? My family. I have some very talented and intelligent grandchildren. It’s unbelievable.