My name is Patrick Pipino. I am the operating owner of Ben & Jerry’s in Saratoga. Originally from Stamford, Connecticut, I grew up in Cohoes and Troy and moved to Saratoga in 1988, after attending RIT. Prior to owning Ben & Jerry’s, which was supposed to be a one to two year stint while working on my MBA, I was a former professional chef, and food and beverage/catering/restaurant manager.
When I’m not crushing the hopes and dreams of teenagers here at our store, you’ll usually find me on the baseball field, where I coached little league for 30 years and have continued on as an umpire-for 25 years. Ha! I’m just kidding-probably. I fancy myself as somewhat of a comedian-at least on social media; but my penchant for hackery in this realm is undisputedly world class-especially if you ask my wife and kids, who find me about as entertaining as a colonoscopy. Why do my kids find colonoscopies entertaining? Non-sequitur. Let’s get back to business, shall we?
On a serious note, I take pride in being a Saratogian. For a poor kid who grew up in Cohoes, Saratoga is literally Shangri-la, and I am one of our city’s biggest cheerleaders. Granted, when I dress up for the role, the various cheerleading squads in town take offense; but that is their issue, not mine. Besides the saddle shoes and skirt give the tourists something to notice other than my ever expanding middle age waistline.
I spend the majority of my free time volunteering, serving on boards and committees, cooking for others, drinking good wine, and oddly, studying geopolitical affairs and air and sea power-particularly nuclear weapons and international security. I’m also a serious Bruce Springsteen fan. Maybe you read about that some years ago when my infamous “letter” went viral causing my wife to fear for our family’s safety-putting me squarely in the doghouse for the better part of a decade.
Q: Please tell us a little bit about your family.
They’re nuts. Oh wait, I misread the question… I have a wonderful wife, Rebecca of 25 years, who is a school teacher here in the district. As such, we celebrate her 25th birthday every year. I also have two incredibly talented, smart, kind, beautiful, and amazing daughters. Someday, God willing, I’ll meet their real Father. Isabelle, my main daughter is 18 and attends Boston University, and Sarah, my auxiliary daughter is 14 and goes to Saratoga High School. I also have an incredible Mom who I idolize, and two wonderful in-laws who have recently moved here from Washington D.C. We also have the two most adorable-and unfailingly stupid-bulldogs God put on this Earth-Mounds and Bean. Collectively, if their brains were dynamite, they wouldn’t have enough to blow their nose.
Q: Please tell us about your current, past, or future career. What do you love most about what you do?
Well, I’ve been at Ben & Jerry’s for 30 years now, and I most days I love all aspects of being a small business owner. Interacting with a mostly young staff keeps me young-and grounded, and meeting all the wonderful people who live in, and visit our fair city is a treat.
Q: What are a couple of your favorite restaurants in our community?
Too many to mention, but Chianti, which has best Osso Bucco I’ve ever had, Osteria Danny-ask for Terri as your server-trust me on this- Morton’s and Solevo are our family favorites.
Q: How long have you lived or worked in our community?
30 years
Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in our community?
So many interesting people I’ve come across here it would be impossible to name them all-but Ray O’Conor is always at the top. The way he has re-invented himself and managed to stay grounded, humble and true to his values is seriously noteworthy. The man has been a border agent, bank President, and an accomplished author, while climbing, by my estimate, 47 mountains every week. Just an incredible human being who I strive to be like. Same goes for Steve Sullivan at the Olde Bryan Inn. Saratoga has so many amazing people who have given so much to make things better for all of us here-people like Linda Toohey, Joe Dalton, Brien Hollowood, Gavin Landry-the list goes on and on, but these kinds of people are the “secret sauce” of why our community is so great, and if I can be serious if only for a moment-I admire them greatly.
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be and why?
I’ve always wanted to go to Egypt since writing a report on King Tut in 5th grade, but I would also like to go on a real live safari to see elephants in their natural environment-also so I can feel relatively thin, comparatively.
Q: What is one of your favorite movies? TV shows?
Star Wars in 1977 literally changed my life as a 3rd grader. Caddyshack and Blazing Saddles run 2nd and 3rd. The West Wing, NYPD Blue, and other “cop dramas” like FBI, FBI:Most Wanted, FBI: International, FBI: Preschool Playground Crimes Division, FBI: Chutes & Ladders, and FBI: We are running out of names for our FBI shows all come to mind.
Q: What advice would you give to people?
Never use an outhouse in the winter, if it can be at all avoided. Also, our family’s three maxims: 1. Have a smile for everyone you meet 2. Be kind to everyone you can 3. When Bruce Springsteen brings the band to town-be there.
Q: What is something on your bucket list?
Date an Asian woman. HAHAHA! The door has closed there. Actually, it’s to learn to play the piano. I have been fortunate to have crossed off most of my other bucket list items-flying a plane, driving a race car, and scuba diving, to name a few.
Q: What is your go to band when you can’t decide what to listen to?
Either Bruce Springsteen, New Order, the Beatles or ELO. I *LOVE* music.
Q: What current or former local business makes you the most nostalgic about our community?
Whoa… Too many to mention, but I loved EH Holland printing on Caroline St back in the day. The owner was such a kindly old man. Oddly, also “Walczak’s Golden Grill” which made for some “interesting” times when I first started at Ben & Jerry’s as they were our neighbor.
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?
Man, do I wish that Hyman Rickover, the Father of the Nuclear Navy, was still alive; because he is my go to answer here. But alive? Probably Mel Brooks. I’d take him to Scallions or the Olde Bryan Inn
Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about our community?
The amount, quality and dedication of the seemingly unlimited number of not-for-profit community organizations that work to make our city great. Like any city, Saratoga has issues that need to be addressed. I take solace in the fact that there are so many “helper” organizations here. As Fred Rogers was wont to say “Look for the helpers…” Well, Saratoga has them in abundance.
Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?
Ostensibly, the mirror comes to mind. But seriously, probably wrapping up my “career” here at Ben & Jerry’s as the local soda jerk, and then volunteering and helping even more. John Lennon once said that “Life is what happens when you are making other plans.” Boy, was he right. I thought I would be here for 1-3 years, and instead I stayed for a lifetime. It’s a wonderful place to live, work, and raise a family.
Q: (Even for friends or family), what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
Though I look completely Italian, I’m a direct descendant of the “Scottish Shakespeare,” Robert Burns. My great grandmother was a Burns. So every time you hear “Auld Lang Syne” on New Year’s Eve, think about me..won’t you?
Q: What is the most beautiful place you have ever been?
Switzerland, this past summer. Words simply fail to do it justice. Utterly amazing.
Q: Favorite month? favorite holiday? and best single day on the calendar?
Favorite Month is probably April. Things wind up at the store; spring is in the air, and baseball; like life, begins anew. Favorite Holiday is Thanksgiving, because it’s about family. Though it also makes me sad, because I think of how lucky and blessed I am with a great family and relative abundance, while many others are not in that same boat.
Q: What would you rate a 10 out of 10?
Well, Lynda Carter as “Wonder Woman,” obviously. Duh. Also 1985 Mondavi Reserve Cabernet.
Q: Who inspires you to be better?
My wife Rebecca. While we come from completely different worlds, and I chide her for her “wokeness,” she is easily the kindest and most empathetic person I have ever met. She is really, really unbelievably devoted to her job as a teacher. She cares so much about the children in her charge. It’s really something. I often reflect that while my career is arguably about making people fatter, she is changing the world for the better every day. The love and care she shows her students is exceptional. While I’m not a teacher, she inspires me daily to be better, and to “do all the good I can, in all ways that I can, to as many as I can, for as long as I can.”
Q: What is one or two of your favorite smells?
Fresh cut grass at the ballfield in spring. The ocean.
Q: Finally, what 3 words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
Cooking, sloppy bulldog kisses, love
