| What is your most memorable childhood experience? | Spending time with my grandparents after school and weekends was always so fun. We would go out on little and big excursions to the kinds of places that fill a child with glee and delight. But the most special part was listening to my elders tell stories of their youth and how different the world was. |
| What immediate family member do you closely identify with and why? | I identify closely with my mother. We share many interests and a general outlook on life. We loved the same subjects in school and college. She became an accountant and later a banking executive and I am a financial planner. We both enjoy shopping and the same kinds of food. We’re a true set of bookends. |
| What character traits do you admire in an individual? | I admire ambition, independence, determination, and a thirst for knowledge. People of action conquer the day. Life is woefully short, and I admire those who blaze their own path. I generally read biographies of people like that. My favorite one being the life of Ray Kroc, who founded McDonald’s as a burger stand in the California desert and turned it into a global powerhouse. |
| What is the funniest thing ever to happen to you? | I once met a celebrity and didn’t realize it until after the fact. I was at my eldest cousin’s wedding in Boca Raton. It was late and I had a nice chat with a middle-aged man at the hotel bar. Afterwards, a fellow patron approached with such excitement and said, “What was he like?” I said, “Who?” It was revealed to me later that it was William H. Macy, famous and award-winning actor. |
| If time and money were not an issue, where would you travel and why? | I would travel to Europe and the Holy Land, to embrace and see historical sights and the journeys of my people. Europe is so beautiful and full of the past, from East to West. Israel is also a magnificent place so rich with history. Having visited both it would be nice to return and again immerse myself in their wonders. |
| When and if you ever have children, what would you like to pass on to them? | I’d like to pass on my zest for life and any wisdom I've acquired. I would want my children to make the most of life and their opportunities, to reach for their dreams and embrace their true passions. I want them to learn from both my mistakes and my successes. I want to be an everlasting and guiding influence and resource in their lives. |
