10 Questions ...
Profession: Retired from GE business development after 35 years, Bullmastiff preservation breeder and dog judge
Dog-sport involvement: President and show chair of Newtown Kennel Club, Bullmastiff breeder for more than 50 years, four-group judge
Hometown: Born in Port Chester, New York, living in Newtown, Connecticut, for 35 years
Astrological sign: Aries
1. Do you have any dog-show superstitions?
None.
2. TV-show guilty pleasure?
“Paw Patrol” with three of my six youngest granddaughters. The only time I get to sit down and watch TV. I love Daring Danny!
3. If you were president of AKC for one day, what would you do?
Reduce the number of shows. Permanently revise Judges Approval Process (LOL).
4. Most valued material possession?
I wish I had anything I could say was my grandparents’, so I think anything I can hand down to my six granddaughters from my parents (my three kids already have many items), including my mother’s first simple wedding band with five tiny diamonds, my 250-year-old grandfather clock and my antique music box given to me by my uncle who was a collector.
5. What is something no one would guess about you?
I am a master gardener with more than 350 hosta plants (and many other perennials) in my backyard; I am a master quilter, having made well over 100 quilts.
6. Who would you compare yourself to?
My three youngest granddaughters think I look like Johnny Depp in “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” (they think I have the same hair style) and because I love candy. It could be worse.
7. What are you “famous” for?
My Bullmastiffs, having bred (with incredible partners) the top-winning Bullmastiff in the history of the breed, and the top-producing male of all time.
8. What website do you visit most often?
Ebay, to add or replace dishes for my vintage dishes, of which I have seven sets in my kitchen. Infodog and Amazon are pretty well visited as well.
9. What was more memorable, your most satisfying win or disappointing defeat?
And what was it?
I have been fortunate to have other handlers show my dogs to Best of Breed at several national specialties. My first win handling was in 1990 with a veteran dog over the number-one Bullmastiff, but most satisfying was Best of Breed at the 2021 National with my bitch, owned, bred and handled by me.
10. What do you wish someone would ask you?
“Mojito?”