If it involves sunshine, water, and moving around, I’m probably in. I’m all about staying active and having fun outside. And when I’m not doing that, I love pitching in and helping out however I can—it just feels good to do some good.

I ran my first half marathon at age 54.

What I love most about volunteering at the Elliott Museum is the great team I get to work with and the good vibes all around—it’s just a great place to be.

I enjoy my time volunteering at the Elliott as well as ushering live shows at the Lyric theatre and serving at the Immanuel Lutheran soup kitchen in Palm City. Reading, pickleball, shooting pool on an antique table in my man cave, kayaking, live blues and reggae help fill my leisure hours.

I’m the proud father of four amazing children and “pop” to six wonderful grandchildren. I’ve played guitar in high school and college bands, summer job as road manager to a popular band on Long Island and lived on a boat in the Hamptons. My most memorable travels took me to Italy, Haiti, Carnival in Rio [we were robbed twice but had a great time!] and cliff diving in Negril, Jamaica at Rick’s Cafe. My brother Joey had a career in thoroughbred racing and I had working vacations as a hot walker while staying at Hialeah and Santa Anita racetracks. I helped transport 18 horses on a WWII Flying Tigers cargo plane from N.Y. to Miami for the winter meet in Florida. I’m now in the early stages of planning a family reunion to celebrate the 150th anniversary of my great grandparents emigration from Italy to America in 1879.

The ever changing exhibits and variety of opportunities to experience the living history at the Elliott has kept me a volunteer since 2013. My first job was helping to assemble Leonardo da Vinci’s tank, where the awesome UFO exhibit now reigns. I’ve worked in the garage and was privileged to drive the ‘57 Bel Air in the Stuart Christmas parade and for the opening of the Veterans bridge in Palm City. I’ve had fun bartending events, doing the Wednesday cruise nights and now enjoy working the car gallery. I’ve got Hugh Willoughby’s hydroplane overhead knowing now why Willoughby Boulevard and my community honors his name. Enrico Caruso’s 1920 Hudson reminds me of my grandparents who lived in Manhattan. Their favorite pastime was going to the Metropolitan Opera house where they saw Caruso. His last performance in America was Christmas Eve, 1920. Our Hudson would have brought him to The Met from the Vanderbilt Hotel where he lived at that time.

Everyone at the Elliott is a pleasure to work with and I’m blessed to call many of them friends.

-Sailing

-The restoration of my 1953 Cisitalia

-Working on interesting projects: car repair/restoration, boat repair and improvements, and “urban renewal” (house repair and improvement).

Still driving a pick up truck (first new vehicle I ever bought ) that I have had for over 1/3 of my life (won’t say the year because it will give away how ancient I am).

The people in the shop while working on a lot of old cars that I do not have to own or store.

My wife Barbara and I enjoy boating, fishing, traveling and ballroom and country dancing. Recently I have enjoyed volunteering at the Lyric Theatre and Elliott Museum.

I like greeting visitors and getting to know them before telling them about the exhibits. 

I have always loved writing stories. My stories are of people I have come to know, some lifelong friends and family, others through brief encounters. My characters come from different cultures and backgrounds.

I like to explore. I especially like taking the road less travelled and learning about ancient history in situ.

I do some gardening and grow orchids. I enjoy cooking what I grow and experiment with old and new recipes.

I grew up in Istanbul and I learnt to speak four languages, Armenian, English, Turkish and French. I use languages to connect. I honestly can say I do not feel like a stranger anywhere.

People connections. People get involved with HSMC to learn, to broaden their point of view. I love being part of the learning process whether I am accumulating knowledge or spreading knowledge to others.