Growing Bolder Community

July 22, 1932 (79 Years Old)

Milpitas, CA
United States Of America

Married

Straight

I sometimes drink

No

Catholic

Community Econ. Dev't. Consultant/Sociall Entrepreneur

San Pedro, CA

Wife of 45/Yrs., a fiery little lady from Florence, Italy; Greatest Daughter & Son-in-Law any parents could ever ask/hope for; 2 very bright & lovely Granddaughters - now "Teeny-boppers", but without all the normal teener angst attitudes; and an extended family, on both sides, that actually love, respect and enjoy being/communicating with each other (resulting in almost Annual Reunions!)  With exception of my Wife, we don't come from a lineage of "long-in-the-tooth" forebears; so they never had the opportunity to enjoy the succeeding generations & 2nd+ career opportunities that we now know.

At age 76, I can - & do - still put in the same hours, energy & dedication to my "2nd (actually now more like 'umpteenth'!) Career" life. But because that's the case, I'm more convinced than ever that - barring some serious accidents, genetic time-bombs or flukes of encounters with contactable diseases - being full active & engaged in life, to the fullest extent possible, makes the case for a solid "cause & effect" relationship; i.e., between good health & vitality in long life and how one engages with one's allocated time on earth.

Having been in military conflict for over 3 years, then lived/worked/traveled in some 80 Countries on 5 Continents for my profession (in Community Economic Development), I've obviously had a good share of exposure to risk, exotic disease contagion & other potentially health/life ending dangers.  And the experiences, knowledge & perspectives gained from such exposure I wouldn't trade for "All the Tea in China".

But the ultimate reward, at this stage of life, is still being physically/mentally able to "toil in the Vineyards of the Lord", and in so performing, achieving what has long been asked of all of us, no matter what our religions or philosophies: I.e, "doing for 'the least of our brothers and sisters'".  That's what I'm doing now, and hope to be able to continue doing until my last breath.     

I was graduated at age 17 (in '50) from a public HS in the small, Los Angeles town of Wilmington, CA, with honors; called immediately to military service, due to the outbreak of the conflict in Korea.  I used my 5 years in Naval service to complete most of my first 2 years of college, was accepted into UCLA in advanced standing, where I gained degrees in Political Science/International Relations & then did some grad-level studies in their African Studies Center.  I later did post grad studies at: The U. of Florence, Italy; Georgetown U., Washington DC, & UC Sta. Cruz, CA.  I've spent time as a Middle, Secondary School & Community College Teacher/Instructor (in Africa); an Adjunct Instructor for a major University (VA Commonwealth), and a considerable number of years doing Training of Government (all levels, including UN) & Community-based Organization professionals. 

Try to stay healthy & in shape, with a clear and active mind; for the interests of my family, but also to be able to continue/complete my present "world of work" Mission and objectives: I.e., to make some very serious inroads on the obscene, pervasive statistics, which show millions of infants dying annually - needlessly! - from Water, Food & bad Sanitation-born pathogen exposure.  We now have the advanced, appropriate technology to change this dramatically sad & wasteful picture.  As a sometime photographer, this is the 1 remaining "unfinished" picture in my life I really want to edit!

Pres. Bill & Sen. Hillary Clinton (again!); Bill & Melinda Gates; Pres. Nelson Mandella; Fmr. UN Sec'y. General/Amb. Koffee Annan; Jim Wolfson (fmr. World Bank Pres.); MP Madame Mangari Wangai, Kenya; PM Meles, Ethiopia; Heads of major UN Humanitarian Aid Agencies & Religious Funding Organizations; Directorate of Rotary International.