Mike Friedman introduced a new program, “Who Am I” talks by members of the Club who are NOT new.
Steve Hug was born in Cincinnati, where his dad was employed by Sheraton Hotels and his mom worked as a pharmacist. When Steve was a teenager the family moved to Boston where he went to college, discovered radio broadcasting and began a career in that field which led to work in many radio markets in the northeast, and also a stint as the back-up broadcast voice of the Boston Red Sox which ended in heartbreak as Bucky Dent’s pop fly sailed over the Green Monster.
Along the way Steve acquired a wife and children -- and the realization that working in radio would not float his family’s financial boat. He next worked in public relations for the Mayor of Fall River, followed by a second career move to Family Services of Rhode Island where he has worked for the last 20 years. Steve’s two children are now adults (his son practices energy law with the Giuliani firm in DC, and his daughter works in manufacturing in Attleboro).
Steve and his wife parted ways, but he is now in a relationship with a terrific woman. In recent years he joined the Y and has trimmed many pounds from his previous generous proportions until he became the lithe and svelte Steve we see today. Steve has two very successful brothers, but neither one can claim the cachet of living in a Pawtucket trailer park. Steve bills himself as a failed musician and song-writer, but a lover of music in all its forms, and particularly the Big Band sound.
Jeanne D’Agostino was born in Providence to native born American parents, but 3 of her 4 grandparents were immigrants. Her mother dropped out of high school, but earned her GED the same year that Jeanne graduated. After high school she worked as a respiratory therapy nurse at Rhode Island Hospital and then in critical care. After working in Rhode Island Jeanne moved to Michigan where she met her husband. They have been married for 30+ years, and they have a daughter who has medical problems but is able to live independently.
A Rhody girl at heart, Jeanne engineered a move back to RI and soon began work in a pulmonary therapy program for people suffering from AIDS. The therapy sessions changed her life. She and other members of her family volunteered in AIDS relief work and in raising funds so that more could be done. Eventually, Jeanne became development director for AIDS Care Ocean State. Fundraising has become a way of life, and she now works as development director for the Highland Charter School.
Jeanne loves Broadway musicals, collecting roadside treasures (aka “junque”) and finding out what makes people tick.
Richard Applebaum grew up on Providence’s East Side where he attended the City’s public schools. He told us about Applebaum’s, his family’s restaurant, about his dad’s career at MetLife (“mother Met”). While in high school, Richard was active with Temple Beth El and in his own yard care business, which featured a vintage but temperamental Econoline van.
He attended the University of Rochester where he discovered a love for jazz, an interest in the law and Hillary, his significant other then and again now. After law school he returned to Providence where he practiced law and eventually purchased a law practice. Richard joined Rotary at age 34 thinking it might be good for business, but over the years he has discovered through many “Rotary moments” that Rotary means so much more. In addition to Rotary, Richard’s extracurricular activities include Boy Scouts and his extended family.
