Q: Please tell us a little bit about your family.
I have one daughter, Kayla, and unfortunately my wife Peggy passed away in 2005 from a brain tumor. We adopted Kayla from Korea and she’s now 34. She originally worked for my coffee shop and is now CEO of my recycling company. She has a 2.5-year-old and just had another baby last Thanksgiving, so now I have two grandchildren.

Q: Please tell us about your current career. What do you love most about what you do?
I originally went to school for Meteorology at UW-Milwaukee, but ultimately graduated with a degree in art. I was also in the Navy Reserves. When I got out of the Navy, one of my commanders worked at a company called Continental Can in Milwaukee. He wanted to start something for people interested in recycling aluminum cans and asked me to run it. That was my start in 1979. Eventually I opened my own business, which is Birmingham Recycling. We currently move hundreds of containers every month. There is also the coffee shop. Many years ago, I would sit there in the morning with the group that would have coffee before going to work. The owner came to me because he was interested in selling. I had no interest. I was a recycler, but the whole coffee group told me that I needed to buy. They knew me and didn’t want the coffee shop to go. I asked my boss at the time if he was interested in buying it with me and he said yes. Neither of us knew anything about coffee so the first five years we lost money. But we turned it around and I kept it going for 18 years. I always looked at the shop not to make money, but to give back to the community. I wanted to be a part of this village, which I have grown up in, and to own a little space.

Q: Please tell us about any volunteering that you have done or currently do.
When I was elected Person of the Year last year for Greendale, we put together a list of all the things I had volunteered for and there were 34 different things. I started at St. Alphonsus and then the MDA Telethon. The main things that I am doing right now are that I’m the vice chair of the Historical Society and I run the gazebo shows on Saturdays. I’m also part of helping with Greendale’s 85th Anniversary celebration. I volunteer wherever I can be helpful.

Q: What are a couple of your favorite restaurants in Greendale? What do you love there?
Ricardo’s has always been my favorite. They have the best pizza. And Día Café is great for breakfast.

Q: How long have you lived or worked in Greendale?
65 years. I was 6 years old when we moved to Greendale.

Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in Greendale?
Anne Marie Pierce with the Reiman Foundation. She is the backbone and why this village runs the way it does. She’s the reason I stayed in this business and did what I did.

Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be and why?
Alaska. As part of my recycling business, I’ve been to every state in the country except Alaska. I’d like to do the cruise there and go on the Denali Star train.

Q: What advice would you give to people?
This is your only chance at life, so leave your mark.

Q: What is your go to band when you can’t decide what to listen to?
Elton John. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road is my favorite. I have a picture hanging on the wall signed by him. Elton John has meaningful and heartfelt songs. Another one is Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.

Q: What current or former local business makes you the most nostalgic about Greendale?
Former business would be Helen Mae’s Delicatessen. It was here in the 60’s. The best cheeseburgers you’ve ever had! And the movie theater. It was our go-to place on the weekend. They had the best movies, popcorn, and candy. We thought it was the place to be.

Q: If you could choose anyone that is alive today and not a relative; with whom would you love to have lunch? Why? And where locally would you meet for this lunch?
The Pope. As a Catholic, I want to know where he thinks the Catholic church is going. I was one of these kids who grew up Catholic and things have changed a lot. I understand why but I would want to know how he feels about it. If I could meet for lunch anywhere in Greendale, I would say Joey Gerard’s.

Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about Greendale?
Village Days

Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?
Fishing. I’m a fisherman. In 5 to 10 years, I hope that I’m at a nice lake somewhere fishing.

Q: (Even for friends or family), what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
I was the Director of Security for Children’s Hospital when I was about 21 years old. One year my wife and I got to play Santa and Mrs. Claus for the kids on Christmas Eve. Another thing that people may not know is that I am one of the few people that have lived in 5 different sections in Greendale: D-section, B-section, M-section, L-section & E-section.

Q: What is the most beautiful place you have ever been?
Maui, Hawaii

Q: What would you rate a 10 out of 10?
My family. Truly. There are 56 of us – kids, grandkids, and great grandkids. When we get together it’s 10 out of 10.

Q: Who inspires you to be better?
My dad. He inspires me the most. He lived with me until he passed away recently at 97 years old. He would say that I’ve accomplished so much, like Village President, but that I could do more, like be in state government. That’s my dad!

Q: Finally, what 3 words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
Love, people, and hugs.