Born in Brooklyn, New York on November 11, 1937. Moved to Dorchester, Mass. in 1945 and learned to swim there at Tenean Beach. Participated in ocean swimming from age 26 to age 41, then retired to support his wife and thee daughters. Resumed ocean swimming career in 2002 at the age of 64. Participated in some 40 ocean swims from that date to the present.