After seeing the world, he prefers seeing family, pals

By JEAN HAYES, Times Correspondent
Published September 23, 2007

"I would still be serving in the military if they didn't have a mandatory exit at the age of 60," Doug DiGerlando said.
	[RON THOMPSON | Times]

A stop to salary increases for county employees that exceed the national and local cost-of-living increases. Those increases are especially offensive, as they include the commissioners' already generous income, unfairly imposing an excessive financial burden on many of the fixed-income residents who are a large segment of the Hernando County community.  

Q: How long have you lived in Hernando County, and where do you live? Where did you live previously?

A: My wife and I have lived in Weeki Wachee about 21/2 years. We moved from a little town in upstate New York, where we lived for about 30 years. Prior to that we lived in New York City.

Q: Who are the members of your family?

A: My wife, Marie, and our daughter, Donna, and our two grandchildren, Tiffany and Shelby.

Q: Tell us about your career.

A: As with many people, I moved from job to job early on, finally settling with the New York State Department of Corrections. I retired as a lieutenant after 24 years of service. I also enjoyed an interesting experience with the New York Air National Guard, which enabled me to visit many areas of the world I would never have been able to see otherwise. I would still be serving in the military if they didn't have a mandatory exit at the age of 60.

Q: What kinds of activities are you involved in now?

A: Too many. But we do enjoy them, as some of them, like the Sons of Italy and the Italian-American Club, have allowed us to reconnect with my Italian heritage. We also appreciate having the time to participate in charitable activities connected with our church. Additionally, there are environmentally related organizations that are of important interest to our community, like HELP Hernando Environmental Land Protectors and the Weeki Wachee Swamp Festival. Recreational activities include, but are not limited to, bowling, bocce, dining out, canoeing, cultural events and visiting with friends (this being the most important), and, last but not least, Academia Hernando.

Q: Tell me more about that.

A: Of special interest right now is an educational program called Academia Hernando. This nonprofit organization allows retired people to participate in an educational program that is both enjoyable and informative. Meeting weekly for two hours, from 10 a.m. to noon every Monday morning, the series of eight lectures is interrupted once, midway, for a bus trip to visit museums in the Tampa area. The professors retained to lecture are well-versed in their fields of expertise and accommodate questions from the audience. The fall semester begins Sept. 24. The entry fee includes all eight lectures, bus trip and a session of musical entertainment at seminar's end. For information, contact Arnold Silver at 796-2855.

Q: Do you have any special hobbies?

A: Building things. Creative projects with wood, concrete or any medium that satisfies an idea that grabs my attention. I don't always complete all of them, but do enjoy the activity.

Q: What are your favorite things to do in Hernando County?

A: I believe I have mentioned most of them earlier, but sharing all these activities with my wife, family and friends is my favorite thing to do.

Q: What do you think would make Hernando County a better place to live?

A: I am sure I share some of my thoughts with many Hernando County residents on these issues: lower taxes, more reasonable home insurance rates, more aggressive leadership from our county commissioners and a commitment from them to respond to the needs of their constituents in a more compassionate manner.

Q: Tell us something about yourself that most people don't know.

A: Are you kidding? Everyone has something, but why do you think most people don't already know that something? In my case, it's humorous, but somewhat embarrassing, and I'm too insecure to share it. Sorry.

Hernando Neighbors is an occasional feature of the Hernando Times. Do you know someone who would make a good profile? We'd like to hear from you. Contact Jean Hayes, community news coordinator, at jhayes@sptimes.com or 848-1438.

[Last modified September 22, 2007, 20:12:10]