I led my first Shorewalkers’ walk in May 2021 in New Brunswick, New Jersey, where I’ve lived since 2009. I had been leading walks for my two alumni organizations since 2013, but planning them through Shorewalkers proved much easier. That initial New Brunswick walk was the first in what became a series of New Jersey walks, now including Newark’s cherry blossoms, a Jersey Shore walk, a ferry trip to the Atlantic Highlands, and routes throughout historic Princeton.

I enjoy leading walks that offer a variety of features including natural beauty, interesting architecture, history, and of course my signature feature – a microbrewery at the end which allows members to socialize at the end of the walk.

My favorite park/trail by far is the Delaware River portion of the Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park in New Jersey, where I have done a ton of hikes and bike rides crossing over to the PA side to do loops of various distances. I usually start in Lambertville, a very charming little town on the Delaware which unfortunately for Shorewalkers is not mass transit friendly.

I have served as president of the DBSA Middlesex County chapter in New Jersey since 2017. DBSA (Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance) is the leading national organization that offers peer-led support groups (online and in-person) for individuals living with mood disorders. DBSA has helped me twice: first in recovering from a severe depression back in 2014 triggered by five (yes 5) life events that hit me in 12 months and second giving me a great sense of purpose as a mental health leader and advocate in my role as chapter president.

Besides regular hiking, biking, and a little skiing too, I am in the midst of two great projects: visiting every major league baseball park with my college roommates (22 down, 8 to go) and visiting all of the national parks (currently 63, and have hit 40 so far). But by far, my greatest accomplishment is being a father and grandfather of two terrific young ladies, my daughter Kelly and granddaughter Juliette.