A Brief Journey Into My World

The Fun Side of My Life

On the fun side, I am a clarinet, saxophone, and Native American flute player. My darling wife and I met as ballroom dance partners, fell in love, got married, live very happily, and still get out to kick up our feet whenever we can. Gayle has one son and daughter-in-law, an absolutely beautiful granddaughter. We also have Sadie our dog, Molly & Patches who are our two calico cats, Gayle's kayak, our canoe, a houseful of my packrat accumulations, a piano, numerous saxophones, clarinets, Native American flutes, various percussion instruments, and many, many more books than I should ever admit to.

The Serious Side of My Life

In the past, I have had more than three decades of career experiences in public policy & politics, public health & health services research, management consulting, and teaching in undergraduate and graduate schools plus teaching in a medium security prison, where I was once blessed to be selected as teacher of the year. In addition to serving three tours of duty in Vietnam, after growing up in a rural, farm community in southern Michigan, I have since then lived or worked in Detroit, Ann Arbor, Philadelphia, New York City, Portland OR, Chicago, Cincinnati, and now Dayton OH.

These days, to keep things short, I am currently ordained by three, non-denominational, international Christian ministries and two international, interfaith ministries. My ministerial work is still evolving. Looking at what music and ministry means to me, the following comments provide a good overview and summary of why I am now a music minister and always aspiring to become a better professional musician:

"Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life" - Berthold Auerback

"I will sing unto the LORD, because he hath dealt bountifully with me" - Psalms 13:6, KJV

"Without music, life would be a mistake" - Friedrich Wilhelm Nietsche

"Use the talents you possess, for the woods would be very silent if no birds sang except the best" - Henry van Dyke

"A song will outlive all sermons in the memory" - Henry Giles

"Faith is an oasis in the heart which will never be reached by the caravan of thinking" - Kahlil Gibran

"If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else" - Booker T. Washington

In addition to this website, my wife and I currently have one other website. Please stop by it if you have time to browse. Gayle has founded a funeral service ministry for families without clergy or who want to design and conduct their own services. She has also published a book, about which more information is provided on her website.

In Memory Of, inc. which is located at www.inmemoryofinc.com

In closing this section, one fortunate afternoon when I was taking a break from whatever it is that I do, I discovered the ladies of the household enjoying a bit of respite from a hard days work. Here they are, from left to right, Gayle, Mollie, Sadie, and Patches, all of whom fill my days with love and joy, for which I am very blessed.