Occupation: I’m happily retired. I spent 35 years in higher education at three colleges. I was a counselor, a financial aid director, an admissions director, and a dean of student affairs.

Family: My wife, Nancy, and I have been married for 52 years. Nancy taught at the Newtown Middle School for 30 years. Our two lovely daughters are grown, and both live in Washington, DC. Our oldest, Arianne, is the program director for the Bill and Melinda Gates’ Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund. Our youngest, Ami, is the floral and event décor designer for the Hillwood Estate, Museum, and Gardens.

Pets: We are dog lovers. We’ve had four rescue beagles: Poochie, Pickles, Madison, and my beloved Thunder, who we had to say goodbye to this summer. Thunder was my companion; I went nowhere without him.

How long have you lived in Newtown? Fifty years. We moved to Sandy Hook in 1969. Four years ago, we decided to downsize and moved to Newtown Woods. I felt like a traitor going from Sandy Hook to Hawleyville. My kids went to Sandy Hook School, my wife was PTA president, I was Board of Ed chairman — we are Sandy Hook at heart. In all our time here, we’ve read 50 years’ worth of The Newtown Bee — more than 2,500 copies.

What do you like to do in your free time? I have to say, I really enjoy life. I’m very fortunate. In all my years in Newtown, there has never been a time that I haven’t served on one or two or three boards, commissions, or activities at a time. I’m currently vice chair of the Sandy Hook Permanent Memorial Commission.

Do you have a favorite book? To Kill a Mockingbird. The book spoke to me because I’m a child of the ‘60s and was involved with anti-war protests and the Civil Rights march.

What is your favorite travel destination? We love to travel. We used to have a second home at the Cape and spent a lot of time there, so that would be my favorite. I love the nature, whales, seals, and white sharks there. We also like to go to DC a lot because our daughters are there.

What is the best part about Newtown? I grew up in Danbury, and Newtown was known as a farming community. When we moved here, there were farms everywhere. The best part of Newtown is the rural nature of the community, the wildlife, and its historical architecture.

Who has been the greatest influence in your life? My parents, David and Alvy Martin, were wonderful human beings. They always gave back, they were role models, and they always served others.

If you could spend the day with one person, who would you choose and why? Martin Luther King, Jr. I went on the Civil Rights march that he gave the “I Have A Dream” speech. I heard him give that speech followed by Bobby Kennedy. I was 22 years old — right out of college. I had rode on what they call Freedom Trains from Norwalk to Washington, DC. We got to the Washington Monument, then marched on Washington. When MLK got up and gave his “I Have A Dream” speech, I was mesmerized. I held arms with Jackie Robinson. Black and white, young and old — that experience really inspired me.

Who is your favorite musical artist? Peter, Paul, and Mary; Joan Baez; Woody Guthrie — folk singers. Folk music really speaks to me.

What is your favorite quote? My mantra is from the writer Leo Rosten, “The purpose of life is… to matter, to be productive, to be useful, to have it make some difference that you lived at all.”

What is something you cannot live without? My wife, my daughters, and my longtime friends.

What is your proudest accomplishment? I have to divide that into three aspects of my life. On the personal side, it would be adopting our two daughters from Korea when they were babies and having them grow to be very independent, productive young ladies. We’re very proud of them.

Professionally, as an admissions director, I’d like to think I’ve helped hundreds of thousands of students get into college; as a financial aid director and counselor, I’ve helped hundreds of thousands of students succeed in college; and as a dean, I was in charge of graduation and helped them at the end.

Community based, I’m most proud of having chaired the Board of Education. I’m also proud that my wife and I chaired the Newtown Labor Day Parade over the years.