Grand Haven Mens Golf Assoc.

I was born in Staten Island NY and grew up in Buffalo NY.  After receiving my Electrical Engineering degree from Erie County Tech, I served in the US Navy and then furthered my education at the University of Buffalo.  I started my 38-year career in the railroad industry as a junior engineer working for the Pennsylvania Railroad in Buffalo New York.  Over a period of years, I worked for three different railroads in various signal and communications management positions.  In 1984 I took the position of Systems Staff Engineer for Conrail in Philadelphia PA.  During this time, I was a member of the Association of American Railroads, where I served as Vice Chairman and Chairman for Committee D, Highway Crossings.  In 1993 I chaired a special ad hoc committee on the study and safety pertaining to rail to wheel enhancement.  Leaving Conrail in 1994, I took a position with Obrien Krisburg in Los Angeles overseeing the as-in service testing of the Green Line transit system.  My last project prior to moving to Grand Haven was project manager for Metro Media Fiber.  We did the design, planning and oversight of the installation of fiber optic cable and six interducts from NYC to Washington DC.  This included build outs in all the cities along the route. We utilized the CSX railroad right of way for our route. 

I moved to Grand Haven in 1998 and became a member of the Men’s Golf Association on its formation in 1999.  I consider these early years special.  Back then we played golf and partied out of “The Trailer”. We also attended the annual pig and turkey roast sponsored and hosted by the golf maintenance crew.  They shuttled us back and forth in golf carts from the trailer to the maintenance barn.  It was a hoot.  On New Year’s Eves, we blocked off a portion of Lagare Street for a party where we invited everyone in Grand Haven to watch the ball drop at midnight by means of a line rigged tree to tree across the street -  Good Times.

Living in Connecticut for 10 years gave me the opportunity to sail the New England waters from Maine to New York.  After selling “Plus Tax” (my sailboat), I chartered and sailed in various countries around the world.  On two occasions I took a great crew of three couples from Grand Haven sailing in the Caribbean and in Australia.  We sailed from St. Lucia to Grenada and the Whitsunday Islands off the Great Barrier Reef.  Sailing has now taken a back seat.  I find it very difficult to find anyone to pick up the anchor and hoist the sails.  From my early years, the passion of fly fishing still remains.  This stems from fly fishing with my Dad in upstate New York.  I still try to take one or two trips every year with my son Mike to the Western US or Canada.  Fly fishing in Labrador and Patagonia is still on my bucket list. 

My wife, Rosemary, and I have been married for 63 years. My career required us to move seven times.  Shortly after moving to Grand Haven I got a job offer which would have required us to move again.  Rosemary was Emphatic – “No Way”.    We have four sons and 11 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren that play a big role in our lives. 

These years being associated with Grand Haven and its golf community and the wonderful people and friends we’ve made have been a blessing.