Quick Stats:
4″kids” with 2 homemade kids and 2 bonus kids; Dylan 41, Cary 37, Lindsey 31, Anthony 28
Married 19 years
Divorced 2009
After barely scraping by graduation, I discovered my passion for cooking. Special thanks to TZ’s Miss Manners of Male Survival 1 and Male Survival 2 classes for her inspiration and encouragement to consider this as a profession. Looking back, that name was some great packaging.
After working at The Old 76 House Restaurant under Chef Joe Hyde, and a fast-paced O’Leary’s Pub in NJ. I enrolled in the Culinary Institute of America at Hyde Park and graduated in 1980. It was also at CIA that I discovered a passion for fine wine, and it’s still a big part of my life. I left for Santa Cruz, CA. 3 days later.
What was originally a plan to explore the west coast for one year and return to NY turned into becoming a west coaster for life. I opened a new restaurant there as the chef , while barely understanding the responsibilities as a 21-year-old. I soon became the wine director, manager and then owner, but still always with a focus on food.
In 1992 my world led me to Portland, OR . This was intended to be a short 24-month stint, but I am here to this day. We moved to Portland for Cary as there is a great school for mainstreaming hearing-impaired children. Cary was wildly successful and has earned her doctorate in psychology and has an amazing practice/business today.
While I found the restaurant business fulfilling in many ways, it’s hard work, the hours grueling, and not ideal for a new family.
I obtained my real estate brokers license at that time and then branched out into Commercial and residential investment and property management. I’ve been a Principal broker for almost last 34 years. I’m almost retired from the sales business; with my assistant of 16 years gradually taking over. I am very excited about this. Today I still own and manage an array of properties which I enjoy doing.
I’m a lucky guy as my kids live within 3 miles of me. When I’m not running off to Mexico for fishing and tacos, or travelling with my newfound free time, you can find me and my rambunctious dog in Portland. I enjoy entertaining my kids who amazingly still like to hang out with me, drinking Burgundy and Champagne and cooking with my crazy wine nut friends and my lovely GF, Heidi.
I am grateful to be here .