Welcome to Retirement

Well I did it! After working 36 years my professional career in higher education administration is over. It is hard for me to believe that, in the blink of an eye, so many years have passed. I have worked hard and have had success in my career. I really liked my work and the daily challenges presented to me. The College and my boss did a very nice job sending me off. There were more 120 individuals at the reception to see me off. I was pleased to see employees from all levels of the organization. The president, the 3 executive vice presidents, the 3 campus presidents, the vice presidents, and many administrators, faculty and staff members. Ellen and I greeted everyone in a receiving line that lasted the entire 3 hours of the event. Linda Simmons, a fellow VP served as host and make opening comments along with Jackie Joseph-Silverstein my boss and the Jerry Sue Thornton the president. There were all very kind in their comments about Ellen and me. Several individuals made comments about working with me and then it was my turn to speak. It was hard at times to not get emotional especially when I spoke of my relationship with Ellen. We have been friends, partners and in love for more than 37 years. We were presented with a bike rack as a retirement gift. This will be very handy for our cross country drive to California coming up in January. More about that later.

I feel quite satisfied with my career. I saw so many changes in higher education student services and played a role in their implementation at the
College. At the retirement reception, the head of the faculty union referred to me as the "go to guy" whenever something needed to be done. I did know a lot about how to get things done at the College. As Vice President for Enrollment Management the past 34 months and with the support of my boss, I was able to make some important changes.

My retirement comes at a good time for me personally. My last day of work was on December 19 and I will be officially retired on December 31, 2008. Retiring around the holidays has made it easier to keep my mind off work. I have told individuals that I will be "lerking in cyberspace" Recently while monitoring work email I saw a message regarding spring semester enrollment. I asked Dwayne to share the data with me since I could not read it on my PDA. His response was "this information is only available to employees of the College." Wow, how quickly they forget. Dwayne was just having fun with me and did provide the requested information. But, this forced home a point that I have been making to others, the College is big place. The work goes on.

Ellen and I are now in Los Altos, CA for the holidays with our daughter Jen, her husband Dan and grandchildren Elise, Thomas and Julia. Once we return to our home, we will be putting the finishing touches on our cross country drive travel plans. We hope to be back in CA around February 1.

more later . . .