Occupation: I am a retired R&D executive. I worked at Unilever for 30 years. I’ve been lucky enough to live and work in the UK, Germany, Mexico, Czech Republic, and of course, America. I’ve also been privileged to visit 40-plus countries throughout my career.

Family: My wife is Donna. We’ve been married for 24 years. Our twins are Marie and Nick, who are 23 years old.

Pets: We have Jack, an English Springer Spaniel, who is 14 years old.

How long have you lived in Newtown? Sixteen years in August. It was and is our first real home after the corporate “merry-go-round.” We felt it as soon as we arrived, and living here allowed me to become a United States citizen in 2009.

What do you like to do in your free time? Work in the yard — the never-ending story; cook Indian food — endless possibilities; watch British period dramas and murder mysteries, read a good book, and/or listen to music.

What is your favorite book? Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy or The Russia House by John Le Carre. They are so atmospheric and you can lose yourself in it for hours. Also, they made very good movies!

What is your favorite travel destination? Normally, anywhere with a nice beach. However, I did fall in love with Brazil when we were living in Mexico and the Iguazu Falls are a stunning destination to visit.

What is the best part about Newtown? The people. It takes a little while to get to know folks, because we are quite spread out, but once you do, it definitely contributes to the feeling of “Nicer in Newtown.”

What organizations are you part of in Newtown? Newtown Lions Club and Trinity Church. I followed Nick through Little League and town baseball and even became a qualified coach, much to the amazement of Head Coach Joe Carrino!

Who has been the greatest influence in your life? Probably my siblings. I’m the youngest and they are easy to look up to. My sister and her husband dedicated themselves to long term foster care, which is amazing. My brother guided me towards studying chemistry and the corporate life, which really worked out for me.

If you could spend the day with one person, who would you choose and why? Nelson Mandela. I visited his modest home in Soweto and the cell he occupied for 18 years at Robben Island. You cannot fail to be moved by his compassion, humanity, and humor in such adversity. A great person!

Who is your favorite musical artist? Bruce Springsteen. I saw him first on a late night music show in the UK, The Old Grey Whistle Test, in 1974. I was 12. He convinced me that one day I should come to America and visit “the swamps of New Jersey.” I did!

What is the greatest piece of advice you have ever been given? “Only worry about things you can influence.” It’s amazing how that simplifies things and keeps you grounded.

What is something you cannot live without? International Test Cricket — the only game I know that can last five days. It’s impossible to explain why it’s so fascinating. Also, single malt scotch whisky (in moderation, of course), which you may need if you watch cricket for five days straight!

What is your proudest accomplishment? Helping Marie and Nick to be ready to step out into the “real world.” They graduate with masters degrees from UConn on May 12. It’s exciting!