I was born the sixth of seven children, raised and attended grammar and middle schools in Worcester, Massachusetts.  I then traveled to Providence, Rhode Island to attend college at the Rhode Island School of Design where I majored in Machine Design Engineering.  Following my college years I enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and served in the Air Research and Development Command.

Upon leaving the Air Force I entered the business world as a Design Engineer for general Motors Corporation in Bristol, CT.  After a lengthy stay with GM, I eventually started my own business in the field of Sales of Machine Tool and was President of BMS, Inc. when I retired.

I am married to the former Carol Raffa of Hartford, CT and between the two of us we had 8 children, 13 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren.  We each lost a child, my daughter to liver cancer and Carol’s son to an automobile accident.  Carol is also a member of the Eastern Star and has been my Escort since I was elected Grand Sentinel in 2008.

I longed to follow in the footsteps of my parents by joining the Masons and The Order of the Eastern Star.  In May of 1964 I was raised a Master Mason in Matthew John Whittall Lodge of Shrewsbury, MA where I served as Master in 1977-78.  I also joined Artemas Ward Chapter #220, OES, of Shrewsbury, MA, and served as Worthy Patron in 1976-77.  After moving to South Carolina in 1994 I have dueled my Masonic membership in Boyleston Lodge #123 of Ballentine, SC as well as dueling my OES membership between St Andrews Chapter #271 in Columbia, SC and Ballentine Chapter #280 in Ballentine, SC.   I have served as Worthy Patron on 4 occasions since coming to South Carolina.