In June 2005, Mindy retired as a middle school reading teacher. Since she really was indispensable, they asked her to stay on as Potsdam Central School's Federal Funding Coordinator for another year. Her true loves are jewelry-making with her girlfriends, playing bridge, being a best friend to many, picking blackberries and doting on her grandson. That's certainly not the right order. Okay, she's also a terrific mother and she loves traveling. In the summer of 2004, she visited South Korea and taught English to Korean school teachers. Since then I've learned to hang out with Korean exchange students, eat sticky rice, kim-chee and red bean paste. She's convinced me that such items are essential ingredients to leading a happy and healthy life.

Our older daughter Amy is a caring, affectionate, fun-loving soul. Her alter ego is a fiery redhead and doting mother. She and Bill Bonina were married on April 22, 2006 at the Church of the Holy Angels in Upton, Massachusetts. They continue to reside there and commute daily into downtown Boston. On July 10, 2007, their son Paul Anthony Bonina was born. He is a great joy in all of our lives. Paul is "Mr. Talky" and knows exactly how to manipulate the adults in his life.

Amy is employed as a property manager by Manulife Financial, a Canadian corporation. Manulife is the parent company of John Hancock, and although that famous landmark building in the Back Bay retains its name, new John Hancock headquarters were built at 601 Congress Street beside Boston Harbor in 2005. Amy is largely responsible for the day to day operations of the new building. She earned her BA in sociology from Wittenberg University in 1992 and completed a graduate CFM Program at Boston University in 2003.

Bill is an accountant with a large realty firm in Cambridge. He probably knows more about the local sports scene than the sports editor of the Boston Globe. Until he blew out his knee playing basketball a year ago, he was goalie #1 on his company's hockey team. Bill is especially keen on fantasy sports leagues and a very knowledgable numismatist. He graduated from Fitchburg State and invests his money wisely. He is a fine son-in-law and friend.

Our younger daughter Alison, who introduced me to gnomes, is an Adirondack faerie and sprinkled with more than just a few grains of mischief. Alison works as the archivist at ORDA's Olympic Museum in Lake Placid, NY. Like her dad, Alison is a runner and currently preparing for her second marathon on Cape Cod. In 2002, she returned to the U.S.from living in Kingston-Upon-Thames, UK where she interned at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London while earning an MA in Design History at Kingston University. She completed her undergraduate work at Saint Lawrence University in 2000. Before heading abroad, Alison worked for several months at Antiques Road Show host, Skinner, Inc., in Boston's Back Bay. Check out her blog at Along the Ausable.

She and partner Drew Haas were married September 22, 2007 on the front lawn of Adirondac Loj overlooking beautiful Heart Lake in the Adirondack High Peaks. In 2008 they purchased a home in historic Jay, NY. Drew is employed at The Mountaineer in Keene Valley and is a professional outdoor sports photographer, author, snowboarder, and rock and ice climber. Also see his blog at Adirondack Trail Running. Recently, he completed the 135 mile Northville/Lake Placid Trail in the record time of 60.5 hours for an unsupported trek. Drew holds a degree in outdoor recreation from North Country Community College in Saranac Lake and has lived and worked in the Adirondacks since his high school days. I have much to learn from him on several fronts. What can I say -- another great son-in-law. My kids choose well.

Last edited: 13 Oct 2009