Hometown: Summit, New Jersey
Present City: Oak Cliff, Texas (we like to think that the OC still has its own identity)
Profession: Software developer
Tell us about your family.
I am married to Jennifer and we are fortunate to have three children — Noah, Haydn and Elly. This Yankee never expected to live in the same house with so many Texans.
How about your work or volunteer life?
I grew up in New Jersey and lived six years in the Boston area before moving to Dallas in 1995 to co-found an Internet consulting company, just as the Internet was becoming commercialized. My plan was to experience Dallas for five-ish years and then move somewhere else, but as year five rolled around, I met Jennifer and here we still are.
Any favorite hobbies?
Two hobbies I’ve rekindled recently are playing trumpet and flying small planes. Both require a lot of practice, although the consequences of not staying proficient in each are wildly different.
What are your favorite places to travel?
As much as I enjoy new experiences, for a relaxing vacation I prefer going to familiar places. Two of our favorites are the mountains in Estes Park, Colorado, and the rugged Atlantic coast of Rockport, Massachusetts.
What brought you to Wilshire and when?
I did not grow up going to church and only began wondering about a deeper meaning of life in my mid-20s. I met Jennifer about that same time and she was searching for a new church. I joined Jennifer for a few of her visits to see what this church thing was all about. No church connected with me until we dropped by Wilshire one Sunday in 2000 and never left. I was baptized here in 2004, and our children have grown up with the warm support of so many Wilshire members over the years. Regardless of our religious beliefs or struggles at any point in time, we feel recharged by this community every week and the journey of curiosity we share together.
Tell us about your faith journey.
I became a Christian later in life and still view things differently than a lot of other Christians. I love that the Wilshire community is interested in hearing my perspective, just as I am interested in learning from everyone else’s experiences and faith. While uncertainty can be unsettling, it is comforting to dance with it side by side with each of you.
What is something interesting most people would not know about you?
While generally mild-mannered, I do have a competitive streak that rears its head when swimming or playing board games.