First, thanks to the organizers for putting together our reunion!
After graduating from TZHS during the Bicentennial, I went off to Newark College of Engineering and earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering in 1980. In early 1981, I landed my first “real” job with a mid-sized manufacturing company in New Jersey. While working there, I met and married the love of my life, Renee — and we soon welcomed our first child, a daughter.
In 1994, I made the bold career move of . . . changing jobs exactly once, joining another mid-sized company in New Jersey. During that time our son was born and I also managed to earn an MBA from Long Island University, proving that sleep is somewhat optional.
I’ve never been a big fan of change, so I stayed in the same town—and even the same house—after my parents moved away. The upside was that both of my kids got to attend TZHS. Unlike their father, they were both very active in sports.
As the kids grew up, I stayed involved in youth sports through Little League, CYO, and especially OMM Soccer, where I served as a coach and coordinator for many years—even after my kids had long since moved on.
These days my main hobby is long-distance running. I started slowly in the early 1990s and really picked up the pace and distance in the 2010s. I’ve run quite a few races over the years, including the NYC Marathon. It turns out running for several hours straight is a great way to convince yourself you’re still young.
Looking forward to seeing everyone and catching up after 50 years!