Growing up in Northeast Minneapolis, we didn't have a lot of money.  BUT, my Dad and Mom always took us on a one week vacation to The North Shore the last week in August every year.  A cabin court midway between Duluth and Two Harbors...where the new marina is.  I absolutely fell in love with The Lake (Superior).  SO, in 1999, when I had the chance to buy a property just outside Grand Marais, I jumped at it.  Even though it was quite a financial stretch, I am eternally glad I did.  After coming up every other weekend for 8 years, I moved up here permanently at the end of 2007. My two sons live in Minneapolis, and I do miss them.  Elliot, 41, comes up a lot.  Colin, 39, once in awhile. 

So many know you from your smiling face behind the counter at Circle K.  What inspires you to always be so friendly, upbeat, and personable? 
I love working at Holiday (Circle K) because I get to connect with so many people that I have come to know and love.  Even though I am now only working 3 days a week (75 years old has slowed me down) I still really enjoy BS'ing with locals at Till #1.  Even the tourists and the Canadians are fun to talk to.  I'm a huge sports fan, and if you come in wearing some kind of a team's logo...hat or shirt...I'm going to start a conversation (which sometimes gets a bit long). The entire Quaife family has been very good to me!!! 

Hobbies are GOLF.!!!  AND, watching and cheering for The Fighting Irish of Notre Dame...where I went to graduate school in 1973, and witnessed The NCAA National Football Championship.  Undefeated and Untied...#1 in the Nation.  I am a HUGE fan.  ALL Notre Dame sports.  And at the moment, The Fighting Irish Women's Basketball Team is really playing excellent. GO Irish.  


It is always fun to learn what jobs others have worked at throughout their lives.  What are some of your memorable past jobs?

I spent 30 years in the financial services/investment industry.  Of those 30 years the most stressful, but most rewarding job I had was as a bond trader.  I traded U.S. Agency bonds...FHLB...FHLMC...FFC...FNMA.  It was so exciting...every day was different, and challenging.

What is your favorite season in Cook County and why?
My favorite season is Spring.  When the snow is gone and all the buds start appearing on all the trees around my house.  It's a rebirth.

If there is one Christmas wish that Santa could grant for you, what would that be?
I'm 75 years old, and I am so fearful that the World I'm going to be leaving behind is in a real mess.  Natural disasters...war...poverty...disease...prejudice...  I can only wish for the human race to wake up and try to solve these problems.  I pray to God we can make some progress on them.