A Saratogian by choice. I still remember driving down Broadway in early 2000, and the place just felt like home. Grateful to be able to work here, and live here with my family. I’m a partner at the law firm of Bond, Schoeneck and King. Jack of some trades, master of none.
Q: Please tell us a little bit about your family.
I have the best blended family. My wife Tricia has no idea how incredible she is – she is strong, thoughtful, wise, beautiful…I could go on. Oldest to youngest, we have four amazing kids in their teens and 20s: Gage the pilot, Maddie the animator, Grace the dietician in training, and Sam the aspiring world traveler.
Q: Please tell us about your current, past, or future career. What do you love most about what you do?
A long time ago, in a galaxy far away, I was a nuclear-trained submarine officer. Then I went to law school, and worked as a DC lawyer for several years before I saw the light and moved up here to Saratoga. I help businesses comply with labor and employment laws, and represent them in court and agency proceedings. I love making arguments–trying to write persuasively to make a point, or having to think on my feet in response to something at trial or oral argument. Much better to argue at work than at home!
Q: What are a couple of your favorite restaurants in our community?
Hattie’s, Sweet Mimi’s, and Panza’s. Hattie’s has the best fried chicken in the country, you cannot beat Jeannette Liebers’ breakfasts and baking, and Panza’s has the best Italian food you could imagine–and can’t forget the Mississippi Mud Pie!
Q: How long have you lived or worked in our community?
A total of 14 years – two years when I was here with the Navy, and then again since moving back in 2010.
Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in our community?
I have to go with Pat Pipino. I know he is going to read this and say that I need to meet more people. But holy cow, the things this guy has done. He has coached, mentored, fed, helped, and/or employed practically every single person in Saratoga, not even counting those who grew up here and moved away. On top of that, he somehow has one of the top Ben & Jerrys franchises in the country every year. The guy took a course at Harvard on nuclear weapons just for fun, for goodness’ sake.
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be and why?
Colorado. I have never been, would love to go sometime, and imagine it is beautiful this time of year!
Q: What is one of your favorite movies? TV shows?
The Godfather. And Quantum Leap–glad it is coming back!
Q: What advice would you give to people?
To badly paraphrase C.S. Lewis, don’t focus on what might happen in the uncertain future; focus on what you do in the here and now. And then to quote C.S. Lewis so I don’t get it wrong, “Do not waste time bothering whether you ‘love’ your neighbor; act as if you did. As soon as we do this we find one of the great secrets. When you are behaving as if you loved someone, you will presently come to love him.”
Q: What is something on your bucket list?
I would love to visit Japan, and experience it firsthand.
Q: What is your go to band when you can’t decide what to listen to?
The Vince Guaraldi Trio
Q: What current or former local business makes you the most nostalgic about our community?
The Circus Cafe. Miss the atmosphere and the popcorn on the tables. Years ago, took the kids there in their pajamas before boarding the “Polar Express” at the Saratoga Train Station.
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 y’all meet for this lunch?
Bill Murray. From the stories of random interactions he has with people complied in the book The Tao of Bill Murrary, it just seems he has an incredibly joy for life, and I can only imagine the stories he has. Lunch would be at Shake Shack at the track, for some fun people-watching.
Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about our community?
The way I always describe Saratoga is that it’s a small town with everything you need from a big city. We have incredible restaurants and shopping, a college, a performing arts center, a hospital, the best racing in the country, huge events that draw tens of thousands of people…and yet when you walk downtown, you run into ten people you know. It’s an incredible thing that doesn’t happen anywhere else that I know of.
Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?
Right here! With a little time in Florida during the winters…
Q: (Even for friends or family), what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
I was in an a cappella group with four friends in college, and we sang the national anthem at Camden Yards twice. I was also on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire back in March of 2000.
Q: What is the most beautiful place you have ever been?
Maui. The “road to Hana” drive around the island has the best views I have ever seen. Mountains, waterfalls, black sand beaches, red sand beaches–it’s something to behold.
Q: Favorite month? favorite holiday? and best single day on the calendar?
Definitely September. It has the beginning of the crispness in the air and the return of football weekends. Favorite holiday and the best single day on the calendar is Thanksgiving.
Q: What would you rate a 10 out of 10?
A cup of coffee on a quiet Thanksgiving morning when all the kids are home visiting, happy that everyone is home and anticipating the day to come.
Q: Who inspires you to be better?
My wife, Tricia.
Q: What is one or two of your favorite smells?
The smell of bacon frying, and anything cooking in a crockpot.
Q: Finally, what 3 words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
Family, Saratoga, and front porch.