John has played trumpet with GCS for the past eight years.  He and his wife, Sheryl, retired thirteen years ago to Florida from Crookston, Minnesota where he practiced law for 31 years including being elected county prosecutor.  Sheryl worked in the office as his office manager and secretary.  Two lifetime hobbies John has continued in retirement are playing the trumpet and learning Spanish.  He has studied trumpet with Cindy Scaruffi-Klispie for the past nine years.  He is now teaching beginning Spanish for adults through a FGCU program. John holds degrees from the University of Minnesota and the University of Chicago in political science.  His law degree is from Cornell.  He taught political science in Oneonta, NY, then law school in Cleveland, OH and served as a trial lawyer for the U.S. Department of Justice.  Writing fiction has become a new hobby and he published two novels in 2012 based on previous legal experiences.  A third novel is in the works.  John loves the great variety of music played by the orchestra. Even more, he treasures the close friendships made as a result of being a member of GCS.  The orchestra has become family.