|
I was born in Queens , N. Y. in the middle of the great depression of 1930. In 1939 my family moved to Brooklyn seeking an opportunity to survive the depression. Brooklyn was difficult in those days, but it did offer opportunity.
Growing up in Brooklyn meant being out on the streets playing Kick the Can and Stickball. Baseball was played in the park along with Basketball. Football was reserved to the open lots, in those days there were plenty of open lots, fruit trees were our goal posts and abandoned bottles and boxes were our yard markers.
This was a great time to be a kid -- even without cars, TVs, or computers; the streets -- this is what we called the great outdoors. We learned to live with each other, we learned what family meant, we learned what community meant. We learned what it meant to be free and live in a clean and safe environment.
At the end of World War Two started a new era for me. We fished quite a bit in Peconic Bay, Montauk and any other place we could find a boat (wood in those days) and if humanly possible an outboard motor (usually 1.5 to 3 hp) if not we would row to the fishing grounds. Being a big kid, guess who my uncles and father had do the rowing; you got it right, yours truly. If we were not fishing were camping in Montauk, L. I. at Hither Hills State Park, the whole family had Great Times. To this day, almost 70 years later, I can remember so much of the family experiences and relationships (14 male first cousins and 4 female cousins and 6 uncles and aunts) and the wonderful times we shared with each other in the outdoors. It didn't matter if we were fishing, clamming, stripping mussels from the rocks at the point or swimming out past the 4th set of breakers, they were all memorable times. I think every family should have the opportunity to share these experiences. Believe me it was the greatest!
The Fifties gave me the opportunity to spend time in the mountains of Greene County (upstate New York). All six families chipped in with a down payment to purchase a small farm. You guessed it, there was a river, the Batavia Kill River; we swam in it, fished in it and of course used small boats on it.
These were the years which developed my love for what God created on this Earth, the patriotism I feel for this country and the strong desire I always felt. . . the need to give back, to share these gifts with my fellow Americans and especially the young. I believe every kid should have the opportunity enjoy these same gifts!
In the Seventies I joined the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, loved Search and Rescue for the Recreational Boater and Fisherman, loved teaching Boating Safety, loved reaching the highest level of education the Auxiliary (AUXOP) had to offer, the highest level of on the water achievement (Coxswain) and, the highest level of teacher-trainer-and examiner (Qualified Examiner)for the Boat Qualification Training Program. I served the Auxiliary as Division Captain, District Staff Officer and Flotilla Commander of 3 different Flotillas. While the opportunity rose to be District Commodore of the First Southern Region, I refused the opportunity. Instead . . .
At retirement in 1984 I decided to create "The Foundation for Safe Boating and Marine Information" (The FSB foundation), A 100% Volunteer Organization Dedicated to the preservation of the marine environment, safety on, over and under our great waterways and most of all the education of our community and our recreational boating and fish constituents. While all this was happening I earned a U. S. Coast Guard License as Captain, it is almost 25 years that I have the Captains License and I am proud it. In the old days it was a very tough test.
All this led to the seeding of the programs sponsored and supported by me and by The Foundation. You can read about these programs and their development on our website. The main point of this message is to tell you who I am, why and how all this started.
Feel free to write me and tell me of your thoughts and ideas, I will be happy to hear from you.
Respectfully,
|
