Home: Basalt, CO. Age: Around 80. Birthplace: Cincinnati, OH. Profession: Attorney. Significant other: Married more than sixty years to my wife Judi. Languages spoken: Spanish, German, French.
Recent professional development: Getting ready to retire. Latest accomplishment: I prevailed on a case whereby I obtained an order from the court that will open up three or four situations where the potential damages are in excess of $2.2 million. Latest contribution to others: For over a decade my wife and I were members of the Mountain Rescue Aspen team. What’s been your big (or biggest leap)? Closing my practice of law in Ann Arbor and moving the family to Aspen. Hobbies: Hiking, painting, going to the gym and studying languages. Recent travel or adventure: A cruise in St. Lawrence. The year before that, a cruise to the British Isles.
Personality profile: Quietly hilarious, focused, relentless. Moral compass: If you stay with what you were raised to believe in, the truth will come out. How do you define a perfect friendship? Understanding, compassionate and trustworthy. How do you define an ideal business relationship? No devious behaviour and do the right thing. What is your greatest joy? Traveling with my wife. What word or phrase do you use far too often? If you don’t ask, the answer is no. What is at the top of your bucket list? To take one last trip to Europe. What ingredient is essential to your perfect vacation? Being with family.
What was your first paying job? Being in the Marine Corp. What movie have you repeatedly watched? Aspen Extreme. What’s the best advice you received growing up? Stick by your values and do the right thing. What modern technology innovation do you most appreciate? My laptop. What is your go-to source of creative inspiration? My book club. What company or organization do you most admire? Mountain Rescue Aspen and the United States Marine Corp. What personal circumstance has had the greatest influence on your life? Marrying my wife sixty years ago.
What change are you working on to effect in your profession or field?
Closing a case I’ve worked on for ten years.
What message do you want to send out into the world? Please be aware of the policies and politics that are harming our planet and let’s get serious about climate change. What widely held belief do you reject? That organized religion is worth killing over. What mega-trend most concerns you? Artificial intelligence.
What title would you choose for the movie about your life? He Was Born in the Summer of his 27th Year. What actor would you choose to play you in the movie about your life? Robert Redford. Who would you like to spend an evening with, in heaven? My mom and dad. As a kid, what did you first want to be when you grew up? I was going to be a cowboy. How would you choose to spend tomorrow, if you knew it was your last day on earth? Hiking, and of course getting the whole family together. What advice would you give your younger self? Move to Colorado as soon as possible. What day in your life would you choose to re-live? The day I married my wife, Judi.
Personal motto: Stay strong to your morals. Favorite quote: “Remember, democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There never was a democracy yet that did not commit suicide” (John Adams). Desired epitaph: A wonderful person who improved the lives of others; a skier, a mountaineer, and the head of his family.
