I was born in 1939 in Richmond, Virginia. Both of my parents worked in their store and were present in our home, but I never recall having much of a con-versation with either one. When I was ten, we moved to California.

After high school, I took the money I had earned working

 at a soda fountain, and probably some from my parents, and rode with two school friends through England, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, and France on a 3-speed bike.

The next fall I enrolled at the University of California at Berkeley; I wanted to do something that was interesting and uplifting, and decided on medicine as a career. Later, I went to UC San Francisco and ended up specializing in ophthalmology.

During my internship, I had a blind date, and within three months I was married! For the next 32 years, my wife Laoni was indispensable to my solo ophthalmology practice, running the office and providing technical support.

In 2000, we decided to pursue other interests, including music, literature, biking and travel. I saw an Encore show in 2004 and was deeply moved by the stories, and by the idea of reaching out to young people.