I relocated to Monrovia in 1999 from Ohio courtesy of my then-employer who wanted a web developer at their Pasadena corporate headquarters in the early days of the internet. Choosing somewhere near Pasadena to live, and exploring east and west, I fell in love with Monrovia after visiting the city, with its Friday night festival and exploring canyon park due to its strong sense of community and access to wilderness and hiking. As a former Sierra club leader, I learned that Monrovia’s foothills were threatened with development, so I found myself joining a citizens revolt, speaking out against development at public meetings along with other Monrovians, eventually leading the city to join the cause and setup a special election to purchase and protect the land. I was one of the core members of the “Yes on A and B” committee formed to educate voters, and coordinated and lead tabling Friday nights at Monrovia’s family festival for several months. After the measure passed and properties were purchased, management fell to the Community Services Commission, so I applied for and was appointed to the Commission, serving 13 years, during which time the resource management plan and a new city park master plan were completed. I am now a Board Member on the Monrovia Parks, Wilderness and Recreation Foundation that is working to support our city’s priceless resources. I love all things Monrovia, dogs, wine, hiking and sci-fi, and I am always up for unique adventures since I love learning and experiencing new things.
Q: Please tell us a little bit about your family.
My blood family is mostly back in Ohio, but the family you choose and my two rescue brother dogs, Cole and Ted, surround me in Monrovia.
Q: Please tell us about your current, past, or future career. What do you love most about what you do?
I have been a geek all my life in technology related roles. At my first company, I developed interface programs to allow company’s systems to communicate, one of which my company turned into a product. I moved to another company, where I spent 23 years in about a dozen IT roles, including early web development, which led them to relocating me to SoCal. Currently I work at AT&T as a lead on their largest collaboration tool platforms. I love technology that helps people work together.
Q: What are a couple of your favorite restaurants in our community?
As one of the nicest venues that has been here since I arrived, I still love Cafe Mundial. Both the original and new owner make you feel like friends visiting, and it always feels special. For a true “gastro pub” I really like 38 Degrees. For awesome sushi, we have lots of great choices, but I still fall back to Mikomi. I could keep going but you said “a couple”
Q: How long have you lived or worked in our community?
I arrived in Monrovia in 1999
Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in our community?
That is a very tough question since I have met so many amazing people, each unique in their own way. I will pick our recently departed City Historian, Steve Baker. His knowledge of our city’s history was beyond belief, as was his generosity in sharing our heritage. I am so grateful to everyone who worked with him on the Monrovia Legacy project to collect so many of his wonderful memories and artifacts for all to enjoy as a legacy to Steve.
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be and why?
I will say Japan, since that is my next major trip coming up in 2023. I love experiencing other cultures. I don’t take major vacations enough and have only traveled internationally four times. This will be my first trip to Asia. I want to do a lot more traveling, especially once I retire.
Q: What is one of your favorite movies? TV shows?
Superman and Lois. I have loved Superman since I was a kid. Growing up gay and in the midwest, having a secret identity that folks wouldn’t understand resonated with me, and of course Superman is not hard on the eyes. I really like the “humanizing” of Superman in this show, with Lois and two teen sons while still being fun science fiction.
Q: What advice would you give to people?
Don’t sweat the small stuff. I see so many people getting mad over so many trivial things. In these days of social media it has given their outrage a larger venue, and I think has made people even more petty. Once you suffer through a mother dying with dementia, or a father dying from cancer, the incorrect order of your latte falls into perspective. Start every day with what you are thankful for to set the tone of your day.
Q: What is something on your bucket list?
Visiting Australia and New Zealand. Some friend are currently there and a friend from Ohio may be moving there soon, so I’m hoping to visit
Q: What is your go to band when you can’t decide what to listen to?
Duran Duran if I am feelings 80s, or Bastille if I am feeling current
Q: What current or former local business makes you the most nostalgic about our community?
Jakes – it has been here since I arrived in 1999 and it’s mostly the same and has great BBQ
Q: If you could choose anyone that is alive today and not a relative, with whom would you love to have lunch? Why? And where locally would y’all meet for this lunch?
Ron Howard – I love his movies, and he seems incredibly bright and real. Apollo 13 is one of my all-time favorite movies for a real story that I was too young to know in detail at that time, but that he captured lovingly, while showing the amazing value of science
Q: What is your favorite thing about Monrovia or something unique about our community that you like?
I love having a wonderful Old Town with amazing businesses and restaurants in walking distance from wilderness, Canyon park and hiking
Q: What is your greatest regret?
Not coming out earlier in life. Times have changed a lot, and California is not Ohio, but a lot of life passed me by being closeted for so long.
Q: Even for friends or family, what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
When I was in Ohio and volunteering as a Sierra Club conservation chair and activist, I was flown to Washington DC and took part in developing a national Sierra Club Endangered Species paper.
Q: What is the most beautiful place you have ever been?
Zion National Park – I love our national parks, but its especially stunning for its diversity
Q: What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Helping to protect Monrovia’s wild spaces with the passage of measures A&B
Q: What would you rate a 10 out of 10?
Monrovia’s Wilderness Preserve and Canyon Park. We are so fortunate to have these incredible spaces to get back to nature and in our own “backyards”.
Q: Who inspires you to be better?
My father, who passed away seven years ago. He was the most selfless and kind person I have ever known.
Q: What is one or two of your favorite smells?
The smell of sages in the Hillside Wilderness Preserve and the aroma of a glazed ham coming out of my mother’s oven for Christmas.
Q: Finally, what 3 words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
Monrovia, Peace, Love
