In His Own Words
01
A Golden-Age Childhood
I grew up during television’s Golden Age in a state with four distinct seasons, a seashore, farms, and manufacturing. My neighborhood looked like a scene from Leave It to Beaver, complete with a soda shop, tennis courts, a cinema, Swan’s Book Store, and a bowling alley. A chicken farm and dairy were nearby. In summer, we swam in a local pond; in winter, we learned to skate on it. With Fenway Park and Boston Garden only thirty minutes away, I naturally became a Red Sox, Bruins, and Celtics fan. As children, we rode our bikes around the Wellesley College campus and, when time allowed, across town to Babson College to see its two-story globe. There was only one rule: be home when the streetlights came on.
At the time, everyone attended church, joined the Boy Scouts, and played Little League baseball and football. In 1957, my Pee Wee football team traveled to Allentown, Pennsylvania, to play in the only Army–Navy game ever held at that level. The game was televised statewide, and our broadcast followed The Dick Clark Show. Unfortunately, we lost 7–0 on a rain-soaked field that was unfit for play.
02
UMass, ROTC & Vietnam
At the University of Massachusetts, I jokingly majored in beer while taking a few other courses I barely remember. Eventually, the school caught up with me, and I had to complete three overload semesters and attend summer school to graduate on time. As a land-grant institution, UMass was required to offer ROTC, which led to my four and a half years in the military. I began my career in medical administration as a Medical Service Corps officer in Montana, volunteered for Vietnam with an aeromedical evacuation unit, and later extended my assignment at Vandenberg because we enjoyed living there so much.
03
Tufts, Cornell & a Love of Numbers
Upon leaving the service, I joined Tufts New England Medical Center, where I encountered the best job and colleagues I’ve ever had. Advancement in administration called for a master’s degree. Although my academic record lacked strength, my interview performance and surprisingly high GRE scores convinced Cornell’s admissions committee to accept me. The math tutoring I had earlier turned out to be the best investment I’ve ever made and showed me how much I loved mathematics. While at Cornell, I did something I never did at UMass. I studied. When not studying, I scrimmaged with the varsity basketball team during their off-season. You had to be good for them to let you play and in shape for the full court.
04
A Career in Care
Throughout my career, I held administrative positions at several institutions and organizational levels. I enjoyed working in home healthcare the most. At one time, I held the position of administrator for both Hampshire County Home Care and Northampton Visiting Nurses simultaneously. Hometown political issues finally prompted me to accept a position at Mass General. As it happened, I commenced work at an Air Force base in Montana and wrapped up my career at an Army base in Doha, Qatar.
