Occupation: I have been teaching multiple levels of genealogy classes for the last 19 years as well as lecturing on the subject in the tri-state area.

Family: I am married, have a daughter and son, and four grandchildren, all gifted and beautiful… naturally! (Are there any other kind?)

What do you like to do in your free time? I love to travel. Just came back from a wonderful trip to Italy and am heading off to Greece at the end of August. I have lived overseas and have had many opportunities to travel through Europe, Japan, Turkey, South America, the Holy Land, and Jordan. I have been leading travel groups for the last 20 years.

What is your favorite book? I love to read nonfiction books and books on the Renaissance and its artists. I always have two to three books on my night table. Bios of people who have achieved great things during their lifetime are also favorites.

What organizations are you part of in Newtown? I have lived in Ridgefield, Connecticut, for the last 35 years, but my connection with Newtown is strong. I love coming to town, strolling the streets, and having lunch. Your annual book sale is not to be missed. I attended genealogy meetings monthly in the C.H. Booth Library for many years before becoming chairman of the Genealogy Club of Newtown. I am now into my second term. I also lecture two times a month for the library on a variety of topics and have a strong following.

Who has been the greatest influence in your life? My students have influenced and challenged me. We have shared so much. I have been able to help them find and understand their family histories. There have been many tears of joy when a document was finally found.

If you could spend the day with one person, who would you choose and why? I would love to spend time with my maternal grandfather. He was an immigrant at age 15, with nothing in his pocket and established a wonderful designing school and became successful against all odds.

Who is your favorite musical artist? I love listening to Luciano Pavarotti. His voice is so inspiring. I love almost all types of music.

What is something you cannot live without? After my children, I could not live without my computer. I spend so much time on it. It helps me to research both my genealogy and topics to present as lectures. There is so much to learn. I never watch television.

What is your proudest accomplishment? I think my proudest achievement (and hardest) was planning my daughter’s wedding in Italy. There were so many issues that arose, the long-distance planning in another language, the cultural and time differences, having to anticipate all kinds of situations. It really tested my organizational and planning skills. But I loved every minute and it was truly amazing.

What is a tradition your family does that is important to you? Our biggest family tradition is the 7 Fishes Dinner on Christmas Eve. I am shopping, cooking, and preparing for hours, but it is our favorite meal of the year!

What would you like The Newtown Bee to cover in the future? I believe newspapers are so important to unite a community and keep their citizens informed. It saddens me to see so many giving up their subscriptions.