About Me

I was born just outside Detroit many years ago. After high school, I attended Wayne State University before transferring to the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. I was accepted into the university's “study abroad” program and spent my senior year in the beautiful city of Aix-en-Provence, France. This was a life-altering experience for me. Although I tried to continue my studies at the university in France, several factors forced me to return to the United States.

I arrived in New York City and decided to stay. I remained there for thirteen years, first working in the travel industry and later at a computer company. I landed my first real professional job as a programmer at Pan American World Airways. It was a great experience—not only as a job, but also because of the fabulous perk of free air travel.

After several years working as a consultant, I settled in Baltimore, Maryland, while working for the national railroad Amtrak. I fell in love with Baltimore and developed a rich and lovely lifestyle there.

After nearly two decades in the Information Technology industry, I grew weary of it and wanted a change. A chance opportunity led me to Košice, Slovakia, to learn the language. At the same time, I discovered that I had a second cousin living in my ancestral village of Osturňa. Unfortunately, I hadn't known this when I first visited in 1988. I visited many times thereafter.

Having moved to Kraków, Poland, I decided I wanted to spend the summer in Osturňa. My cousins helped me find a suitable rental, and I lived an enchanting life there for three months. Returning to Kraków, I was very unhappy and wanted to return to Osturňa. A few months later, I purchased the very same log cabin in which my grandmother was born and moved in. I had all the comforts I needed, except for an indoor toilet…

I later rented and operated the village's only guesthouse. When I returned to my home four years later, I found that it had seriously deteriorated despite my best efforts. Ultimately, the house was dismantled, and plans are underway to replace it. In the meantime, I live in a temporary dwelling consisting of less than 500 square feet. But at my age, I don't need stairs and a lot of rooms to clean.

To support myself, I began a translation and interpretation business in 2006 and finally closed shop in 2022. I have been happily retired ever since. Retirement has given me the opportunity to do other things.

Perhaps most significantly, I began a not-for-profit organization called Bohatstvo Osturne, or, roughly translated, The Riches of Osturňa. Its purpose is to highlight the wonders of the village and its traditions. To see our projects, go to www.osturna.org. Warning: As of September 2026, we are moving files over, so the website is not currently functional. Try again later.

My latest personal project was to finally finish writing a book that I began in 2008. What began as a short story grew into a novella before eventually being edited down to a novelette. The Golden Apple: A Tale from Osturňa is available for sale at a nominal price.

I am currently single with a dog named Poochini.