Occupation: I’m a retired corporate pilot. I was with General Electric for 30 years. I was trained in the Marine Corps and was a fighter pilot in Vietnam.

Family: My brother, Roland, lives in Michigan. Another brother died about 15 years ago. My wife, Faith, and I have three children, Richard, David, and Lisa. Richard is in Tampa, David is in San Antonio, and Lisa is in Massachusetts. Then there are the loves of my life, our seven grandkids, Hannah, Steven, Nicole, Matthew, Jenny, Andrew, and Sarah.

Pets: We’ve had an Irish setter, a beagle, and my son’s dog. Now we have Abby, our Bichon Frise. She’s almost 12 years old.

How long have you lived in Newtown? Come February, we’ll have lived here for 39 years.

What do you like to do in your free time? I belong to three choral groups, the Waterbury Chorale, Newtown Choral Society, and the St Rose Church Choir. I sing bass. I’ve been sidelined by a couple of knee surgeries, but I’m hoping to be able to golf by summer. I like to spend time on the computer, and I like my newest “toy,” my iPhone. I’m really getting into this new technology. I also love to read.

What is your favorite book? I like a lot of different books. I like mysteries, techno-thrillers, and historical novels especially. Right now, I want to get into the new Ken Follett series. W.E.B. Griffin has always been a favorite author. I liked that whole Hunt for Red October series by Tom Clancy; he also wrote a nine-book series on the Marine Corps. There are two Browns I like to read: Dana Brown, who writes techno-thrillers, and of course, Dan Brown of The DaVinci Code fame.

Do you have a favorite travel destination? We travel a lot to see our kids. We have an RV and have even been to Alaska. But if I had the resources, I’d have a place to put my foot down and be planning my next destination. I’ve got several around the world trips under my belt, from my career. I’m one of only two GE crewmembers who have been to Israel. That was a memorable trip. I’ve seen the Taj Mahal, the Pyramids, and Mount Everest — from afar. I’ve seen a lot from the air, now it’s time to see them from the ground. I’d love to keep traveling.

What is the best thing about Newtown? I like the center of town, from the flagpole to the shopping center to Fairfield Hills. To me, that’s Newtown. But then you always have Sandy Hook, and it’s a big part of Newtown, too.

What are some of the biggest changes you have seen in town? When we moved here, Fairfield Hills was still a hospital, and the only traffic light was the one at Main Street and Route 302. This town has grown leaps and bounds. Unfortunately, it’s still growing. We’re living in a fast-paced world, and it’s time to slow down.

Do you have a hero? My mom and dad. They taught my brothers and me to do the right thing. They gave us our values: respect for the other person, to work hard, and to pass on what we were taught.

Do you have a personal philosophy? Always try to keep an open mind. There’s always something about a person that is likeable.

What makes you happiest? My wife and I are separated by the miles from our kids and grandkids. So I love spending time together with my family when we can. I love to watch the little ones, and the little things they do. They make us laugh, really laugh, at some of the things that come out of their mouths. But we’re doubly lucky. We have another “family” right here that we’re close to, and we’ve seen their kids born and raised. And they call us gramma and grampa, too.