32 minute read
ROWHOME REMEMBERS
Life
Coulda! Woulda! Shouda!
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byTony Santini
Life gives us moments which force us to make a choice – decide or do nothing. It’s probably safe to assume that through the course of our lives, we have regretted a choice, a decision or an action not taken.
You can pick your preferred phrase – “the path not taken,” “the lesser of two evils,” “a fork in the road.” Each of these metaphors depicts a deciding moment when a choice is required and your sub-
sequent action or non-action, may have lasting implications.
My personal favorite phrase is a line from a song by the group, Faces. In the lyric, lead singer Rod Stewart sings, “I wish I knew then what I know now, when I was younger!” Man, oh man, if this ain’t the truth! If I knew then what I know now, there would be things I would have done differently but, keeping this on the lighter side, let me share some of my “woulda, coulda, shoulda” moments.
I was a shy kid. People who know me now would dispute this but, back in the day, I was afraid to talk to girls. I could have, but I didn’t, and that lack of action means I’ll never know if that little, red-haired girl I liked in fifth grade would have gone out with me. I should have asked her out. What was the worst that could happen? She says no? Instead, I lamented when she danced with another classmate at one of our school dances. Same held true in sixth, seventh and eighth grades. Fortunately, I grew out of that shyness in my late teens and, when an opportunity came up to talk to the prettiest girl in the room at a party, I took it and will be married to that same girl for 40 years this September.
Other decisions made in my youth explain my aversion to risk. Like any kid growing up in South Philly, you had to learn how to climb fences so you could sneak into your neighbors’ yards to retrieve errantly thrown footballs and pimple balls. This skill involved placing your hands and feet on opposite alley walls, scaling both sides, then leaping onto the fence you were trying to hop. This was easy to do for the skinny, athletic kids. Not so for the short, chubby ones. My attempt resulted in an epic fail that left me with scrapes and bruises on both arms and legs for most of the Summer.
An equally painful experience was
caused by my attempt to do some trick riding on my hand-made scooter. For those of you who do not know what this is, it was a wooden crate nailed to a four-foot-long piece of wood with an old-fashioned roller skate nailed to the wood. I thought I could jump off and on it like the trick riders on horseback at the circus. I wish I knew then what I know now. Another epic fail with more cuts and bruises to arms, knees, and chin. And I don’t even want to tell you about how I tried to spray paint that same scooter with a can of silver spray paint I found in my cellar. The can was clogged. I thought I could unclog it by sticking a nail in the can where the nozzle sat. NOT! The spray covered my face and the only thing that prevented blindness was my glasses. I looked like the Tin Man from Wizard of Oz! Lucky for me, my friend’s mother cleaned up my glasses with cooking oil, so I didn’t have to explain the whole mess to my mother.
I had an opportunity to buy my dream car in 1982. It was a 1965 Mustang with bucket seats, leather interior, convertible roof, and a center control stick shift. The car was in good shape but needed a new engine. The asking price for the car was $800 which, as a newlywed at that time, might as well have been $8,000. I shoulda bought it. I didn’t. I regret it. A pristine ’65 Mustang convertible, like the one I passed on, recently sold for $70,000! Not that I would have sold it if I owned it today, but I would be one of those old guys who takes their car to the neighborhood Car Shows and sits beside it in a beach chair, waiting for you to ask him questions about the car.
I was an original subscriber to Netflix. When it first came into existence, members would get a DVD movie mailed to their house. After watching the DVD, you would send it back via regular mail and, once received, Netflix would send you the next DVD on your list. The process took about 12 days. When Netflix opened distribution centers on the East Coast, the turnaround time was cut to two days. I said to my wife, ‘This is going to be huge. We should buy stock in Netflix!’ I could have. I should have. I didn’t. In 2002, Netflix stock was selling for $9 a share. Netflix stock recently reached its highest value of $399 a share. If I knew then what I know now, I’d be sitting on a beach somewhere writing this story. I had similar conversations at the breakfast table with my wife about buying stock in Facebook, Amazon, and Google. We never did. No risks, no rewards. Paths not taken.
So, while I have overcome my shyness to the point where, now, I will talk to anybody, anywhere, anytime, about anything, (much to the dismay of my family and friends), I have not been able to overcome my “decision fatigue” when it comes to risk taking. By the way, does anyone know anything about Bitcoin? PRH
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JOHN STEVENSON
by Larry Gallone
Holding a photo of the badge of his great grandfather, and badges from his grandfather and father, John Stevenson was sworn in as the 13th Chief of Police for the City of North Wildwood in June 2021. It was the perfect backdrop for Stevenson, who has devoted his life to civic and neighborhood involvement.
A fourth-generation law enforcement officer, Stevenson’s swearing-in ceremony took place in the amphitheater on the beach. His wife Maureen held the Bible while his mother Ruth pinned on the badge. His sons, John, Michael, and Gavin looked on, along with about a hundred family members and friends. Stevenson was born and raised in the Pennsport section of the city. So how did a son of South Philly get to be Chief of Police in North Wildwood? After graduating from St. John Neumann High School, he started his college career at Penn State Ogontz campus (now called Abington) with his eye on a degree in architecture. “I was going to be an architect. I was good with art but not so much with math. I could draw you a picture of how the building would look, but not sure how it would stand!”
His family spent summers at his grandparents’ house at 14th & Surf in Wildwood, so he knew the area well. He ventured down the shore and started selling caramel corn, never planning on being a police officer. But circumstances as they were and his family history (his uncle at the time was a lieutenant in the North Wildwood Police
Department), he decided to start at the Police Academy in 1993. “It was an 8-week course. I was going to quit in the first week. It was hard-nosed discipline, physical. They wanted to get you ready to go out into the street,” he recalls. He realized that the training was critical for success. “If you can’t handle the made-up stress, how are you going to handle the real stress? I had made a commitment – it came easy for me.” Since then, Stevenson has held a variety of positions and responsibilities in the NWPD including patrolman, sergeant, detective sergeant, lieutenant, captain and special law enforcement officer. Throughout his career, he has received several awards and commendations. One of SALUTE TO SERVICE the most impactful experiences for Stevenson didn’t happen in North Wildwood, though. It was September 11, 2001. He recalls being sent along with the Special Response Team, which had been activated. “The Port Authority NY NJ had just issued a statewide assist officer (the largest assist officer in the history of policing). I was told to pack for several days because all we knew at the time was that America was under attack. Being assigned to a tactical team like this was a part of the job we signed up for, albeit we never thought it would be for something like this,” he says. “One minute, I’m getting ready to eat breakfast and the next minute, packing my duty bag. Within an hour, myself and five other North Wildwood Police officers (Matt Gallagher, Mike Lederer, Paul Skill, Mike Johnson and Bill Etsell) were enroute to New York City.” They were stationed at the Giants Stadium, waiting for the call and ready to deploy. Later in the day, they were told to “stand down.” “It was an empty feeling,” Stevenson says. “We were close enough to feel and see what was happening but were far enough away to not be able to do anything. Not much was said during the 150-mile ride back to North Wildwood.”
In his new role as Chief, Stevenson continues to look forward to the summer season, and points out that the Mayor and City Council are big supporters of the Police Department. “On any given day and moment, both on the beach and boardwalk, there are 10-25,000 people. We have officers who can respond on bikes, cars, or foot. We want to have that atmosphere of feeling safe for fulltime property owners and those coming for vacation.” (Would also like it to be known that North Wildwood has 4,000 residents in the winter and anywhere from 75-100,000 in the summer)
John Stevenson has strong ties to both South Philly and his Irish ethnic roots.
He is past president of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. He is founder and Past President of the Second Street Irish Society, receiving its Man of the Year Award (1997) and elected to the Society’s Hall of Fame (2013). Additionally, he is Founder and Past President of the Anglesea Irish Society, Wildwood, NJ. He has been recognized with Proclamations in 2010 and 2019 from the Mayor of North Wildwood for exemplary service to the Irish community.
His community services also extend to the athletic field. He coached basketball for Sacred Heart of Jesus CYO in his hometown Philly and Wildwood Catholic High School, North Wildwood, NJ.
From his South Philadelphia neighborhood to the South Jersey shore, John Stevenson has blazed a trail of service to others. A family tradition well worth preserving. PRH
Hands-On HISTORY Rebecca Franco
by Brenda Hillegas
Philadelphia is filled with amazing museums that highlight the artists and history of our area. Though many may not seem kid-friendly with priceless artifacts that scream “hands off,” most museums do encourage children of all ages to discover their exhibits and think about what’s in front of their eyes. Rebecca Franco, the Family Programs Manager at Old City’s Museum of the American Revolution, figures out ways for children to understand the museum with a hands-on approach.
“The American Revolution is not just a moment in time, but an idea,” she says. “It’s an experiment in Liberty and self-government that we are all responsible for continuing.”
Franco, previously a resident of South Philly, now resides in Montgomery County where her family loves to wander the trails of Valley Forge or Fairmount Park and spend Sunday afternoons rooting for the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. As a mother of two, she understands the importance of getting children involved in our city’s gems. Her prior work at Fleisher Art Memorial as Children and Youth Programs Manager helped her learn much about community engagement, accessibility, and building programs for young people in our city.
“I still have so much love for [Fleisher],” Franco says. “But I have always had a deep interest in American history. I was extremely excited to combine that with a passion for family engagement and learning. Add to it the chance to shape programming at a new and growing institution made the opportunity irresistible.”
The Museum of the American Revolution celebrates its 5th anniversary this spring and Franco spends her days planning for the years to come. “The best part of my job is that I love all of it. I love doing research and writing ideas on getting families to engage with our exhibits, and then cutting out felt hearts for making pincushions in Revolution Place,” she says.
Revolution Place is an interactive kids experience at the museum open on weekends and holiday Mondays. Mark Turdo, the museum’s Curator of Collections, who was personally involved in the design and concept, explains that the idea came from FamilySearch who approached them about including a genealogical discovery center in the museum. Wanting to find a balance between that and the details of Revolutionary-era life, Turdo and his team suggested the idea of a space with “typical” neighborhood locations that touch on aspects of Philadelphia life during the 1770s and 1780s. Using the neighborhood approach - a market, tavern, and church, for example, are all parts of Revolution Place - allows modern Philadelphians of all ages and backgrounds to see themselves in Revolutionary Philadelphia.
“There is always something special happening in Revolution Place,” Franco says. “Our in-person family series, History Explorer Meet Ups, is an excellent opportunity for kids to learn about the people and events of the Revolution through hands-on games and activities.” A recent example, as part of this year’s Presidents’ Day special programming at Revolution Place, included how to set up Washington’s portable campsite bed. This summer, kids can recreate Washington’s Standard flag paper and stamps.
Family programming goes beyond Revolution Place, though, and children of all ages can find ways to explore and understand the museum any day of the week. Franco’s work includes drafting guides and putting together proposals for family activities connected to current exhibitions like Black Founders: The Forten Family of Philadelphia or Liberty: Don Troiani’s Paintings of the Revolutionary War. She chooses family programs to tie into specific exhibits with one main goal in mind - how can the museum get families to think (or rethink) about what the Revolutionary War looked like?
“There was no photography in the 18th Century, so historians have to use all kinds of clues, like clothing, objects, and stories, to imagine how a moment might have looked or felt,” Franco says. “All the programming is based on getting families to do the same kind of contextual thinking. Whether that’s looking at a painting and finding how the historical objects fit into it or trying on a coat or apron to connect to a person - how do you use what you know about this thing and link it to this event?”
By creating exhibits and programs aimed at young people, Franco hopes to ignite curiosity and excitement around the Revolution. “[I want children] investigating and discovering even more than we’re able to cover in the museum. I believe that if we can light that spark and interest in learning about the American Revolution now, they will grow into adults who understand the rights and duties of citizenship, later.”
Upcoming family events can be found at www.amrevmuseum.org. PRH
PRH
Life
Image courtesy of the Museum of the American Revolution
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by Joseph Myers
Growing up at 10th and Mifflin Streets, Gina Amoriello vacillated between wanting a career as a doctor or a lawyer, knowing that each would fulfill her strong desire to assist communities and transform lives. Feeling the latter vocation would prove more rewarding, she chose the challenge to match her wits against fellow legal aficionados and has spent the last 21 years overseeing a private practice that has gained clout in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
“I craved a chance to help people and to assist those who are less privileged,” the 48-year-old go-getter says. “The journey, of course, hasn’t always been an easy one. I feel that given the nature of what I do, I’m cut out to make a difference.”
That yearning has bred status as a litigator thoroughly versed in all criminal matters. Regardless of the task, Amoriello never backs down from the call to fight for clients. She believes that in a congested field, she stands out not only because of her gender, but also thanks to her tenacity.
“I bring the knowledge, life experience, and life skills that will be key to helping them,” she said of a few distinguishing qualities that have recently made her busier than ever. “I talk to people, not at them, and I think they appreciate that personalized interaction.”
Her recently increased workload suits the ambitious private practitioner just fine, as it has dovetailed nicely with a lifetime spent pushing herself to higher heights. Amoriello is the product of St. Nicholas of Tolentine School, now St. Anthony of Padua Regional Catholic School, and St. Maria Goretti, now SS Neumann-Goretti High School. “I’ve always wanted to test myself to see how much I can learn. Needless to say, this line of work has made me a lifetime student.”
Following her undergraduate marketing and accounting studies at Saint Joseph’s University, Amoriello started to make her mark by graduating from Temple University’s School of Law in 1998, a connection that yielded for her the institution’s Moot Court Award, along with a commendation for excellence in litigation. Through a
BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT judicial clerkship on the Superior Court of Pennsylvania and time as an Assistant District Attorney in Philadelphia, she learned even more about the complexities of her calling, setting her up for the educational trek that her private practice has crafted. “To say the least, we are not living in easy times, so we need compassion to do what we do,” she says of her peers. “I’d say that’s an absolute that people can count on if they have me handle their case.” With a Center City office and a Westmont, New Jersey space, the legal beagle is building on a resume that includes close to 50 jury trials - multiple homicides, federal cases, appellate duties, and personal injury matters. Making a living through an occupation that is never short on tough situations to stomach, Amoriello feels she successfully keeps her professional endeavors from weighing too heavily on her personal life and believes that achieving that balance has led to many personal gains, especially through the duration of the pandemic.
“Too many people concentrate on the past and the future and are forgetting to live in the present,” she says. “That’s where we have to be most of the time.”
When she allows herself to ponder what lies ahead, Amoriello thinks about building her business, feeling that no matter how crowded her calendar becomes, she can always take on more. The chance to build trust with her client pool motivates her greatly, but she knows, as her previous statement indicates, that the here and now are her chief responsibilities. To that end, she enjoys walking around her South Philly neighborhood, spending as much time as possible with her three children—one of whom intends to follow in her legal footsteps – exercising, and being a conduit for her soon-to-be two-year-old husky Luna to let out some of her boundless energy.
“Multi-tasking is definitely one of my strengths,” Amoriello says with a laugh. “Being a lawyer has taught me many things, and I’m sure it’s going to teach me a few more because I definitely want to work in this field for as long as I can. One of the biggest lessons is that no matter what you’re passionate about in life, you have to give it your all.” PRH Gina Amoriello, Attorney at Law, is a member of the Philadelphia RowHome (PRH) Magazine Business Network.
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A GUY NAMED Johnny Doc
photos by TALIA ROTA
Philly Philly
A Retirement Celebration was held recently for John J. Dougherty, Business Manager, IBEW Local 98, at Cescaphe’s Vie, honoring his nearly 30 years at the helm of Local 98.
About a dozen & a half years ago, Dawn and I decided it was time to tell the happy tales of growing up in South Philly. We wanted to collect the stories of our neighborhoods and share the memories of who we all are and how we came to be. Stories about the old days - the music, the food, the traditions.
We called it Philadelphia RowHome Magazine. We would tell the stories of the people, places and things that make us smile. We would ask people to support our local businesses – generations deep – and teach our kids to do the same. ‘Go home philly. Stop & shop at our local spots!’ would become our rally cry.
And we would do this for as many sections of the city as possible. River to River. One Neighborhood.
We’d start in the neighborhoods where we grew up - St. Nick’s. Epiphany. Annunciation. And ask the business owners we knew to represent the neighborhoods we love.
We asked a few friends if they knew anyone in Pennsport who could get our mag to the waterfront neighborhoods. ‘You have to see a guy named Johnny Doc,’ the UPS driver told us. ‘He does a lot for the neighborhood down there. You can
stop in Doc’s Union Pub and they may be able to help you.’ On a Saturday afternoon in the middle of May, we loaded 2 cases of our first issue into the back seat of our Dad’s old Taurus & headed to 2nd & Mifflin. Unfamiliar turf to a couple of girls all the way from 12th & Mifflin. We walked in through the Ladies Entrance (does anyone really use that door anymore?) lugging heavy boxes of glad tidings. We startled just about every patron in the crowded bar. ‘Hello. We’re here to see Johnny LIFE Doc,’ we announced. ‘We just published a new magazine for our neighborhood called Philadelphia RowHome,’ Dawn added. ‘Have a seat. We’ll see if he’s around,’ a very nice bartender smiled. We sat at a table in the back – hugging 2 cases of our very first RowHome. And wondered what do two stranger chicks from the other side of town order from a 2nd street bar at noon. What were we thinking? ‘I felt Daddy’s spirit directing us here,’ Dawn mumbles. ‘He loved that we are Irish. This neighborhood needs to be represented in our mag.’ ‘While you’re in touch with the spirit world, ask Daddy what we’re supposed to say to a guy we don’t know about a mag no one knows about. Hi, our mom is Italian. Our Dad was Irish. We’re here to merge our neighborhoods and need your help.’
Minutes later, the Ladies Entrance door swings open. In walks a tall guy in a sweaty T-shirt carrying a basketball under his arm. We obviously interrupted his game.
‘Hi. I’m John Dougherty,’ he extends his hand.
We both jump up from our seats. Fair skinned, light eyes. I knew she was going to say it.
‘Omg. You remind me so much of my Dad. He was Irish and Welsh. I’m Dawn and this is my sister Dorette. We were told that you could help us get our magazine distributed in this neighborhood. Can we leave these cases here?’
John sat at the table and listened to our story. How RowHome came to be. River to river. Food, family, traditions.
‘When the next issue comes out, call me,’ he said. ‘Our neighbors would love to be part of this.’
We high-fived as we headed back home. Feeling accomplished that we met the bar owner of Doc’s. ‘He is such a nice guy to give the mags out to fellow business owners in the neighborhood,’ we agreed.
When the next issue arrived, we loaded our 2 cars with cases to begin our delivery. Dawn dialed the number Doc gave us and told him we were on our way with 2 cases for his pub.
‘Hold up. I’ll send someone to get them,’ he said.
Minutes later, a few pickup trucks pulled into the lot where we stored our shipment. They loaded cases onto their trucks and headed out to help us deliver. Not only to Pennsport, but to every neighborhood on our list. A weeklong endeavor for 2 girls from 12th street was accomplished in 2 days thanks to the volunteer help we got from Johnny Doc and his friends from 2nd street.
I googled his name on our way home and started reading all about him. Out loud. ‘Omg. He doesn’t head the Pub, he heads the Union,’ I told my sister.
Strangers to us.
Willing to help spread the positive stories that built a neighborhood of friends.
River to River.
That’s the man we know. Ready to lend a hand to give everyone a chance to share their memories and accomplishments. Honor our leaders, our Vets, our grandparents. And to remind us to never forget where we come from.
Thank you, John Dougherty. We will never forget. PRH
Dorette & Dawn
Rising STAR
Educators
by Joei DeCarlo DiSanto
TString Theory Schools, an Education Management Organization, has set the bar high when it comes to academic and community standards. Since opening its first school – Philadelphia Performing Arts – in 2000, the organization has committed itself to providing quality K-12 education as a public charter school open to all Philadelphia residents, tuition-free, using the arts as inspiration. Over the years, String LIFE Theory Schools have expanded Philadelphia Performing Arts to three city campuses: East, West, and Vine Street. In 2012, String Theory School also opened a Renaissance School, Arts and Sciences, located in Northeast Philadelphia.
To better support its students and respond to the demand for teachers in the City of Philadelphia, leadership at String Theory collaborated to develop a new teacher residency program. String Theory Academic Residency (STAR), along with their existing LIGHT Leadership and Temple Teacher Residency, are available for aspiring and current educators, K-12. STAR gives aspiring educators (who already have a bachelor’s degree) the opportunity to earn the credits needed to become licensed teachers in the state of Pennsylvania. The program has partnered with a variety of schools to help tailor the program to the needs of each individual applicant, allowing for different avenues of study.
Serving more than 3,500 students in the city, despite a teacher shortage, String Theory identified a need for passionate educators who “want to be with kids and who want to be pioneers in our field,” says Danielle Shylit, Director of Innovation.
“It’s a field that is constantly changing and we want creative minds who can help us to foster those changes. We are seeing this crisis as an opportunity and are looking for educators who want to be part of something bigger than themselves,” she explains. “There is more of a focus on the dispositions of the person and the ways in which they approach education. We want diverse educators, with no barriers, who are committed to educating our community. We believe creativity, innovation, and empathy have to be at the root of what teachers and leaders learn because our children, right now, need not just skilled leaders that care or skilled teachers that care, but ones that can meet the authentic needs of the current climate.”
Pennsylvania certified about one-third of the teachers in 201819 than the state did in a single year 10 years ago, following a decline nationwide. Shylit noticed “a growing deficit of people interested in teacher and leadership positions that has gotten worse from the pandemic.” In the spirit of their passion to serve their students and the surrounding community, String Theory based the STAR program around their existing grant-funded teacher residency program with Temple University and their LIGHT leadership program, acccording to Shylit. The LIGHT leadership program was designed for licensed teachers who have an interest in taking on a leadership role in a principal capacity. LIGHT is rooted in fostering leaders who have empathy and
Dr. Mosca also touched on the ever-changing needs of education and how older methods are not always what is best for the future. “[Education and its needs have] shown us we cannot run things the way we have. The traditional ways need to be revisited and creative ways can be pursued through programs like this.”
Being a graduate of a residency program himself, Dr. Mosca was able to draw inspiration from
utilize both design-thinking and creative problem-solving - areas that existing principal prep programs often miss. This unique program gives teachers an accelerated pathway towards certification with a focus.
When asked about the inspiration and importance of STARS, Dr. Thomas Mosca, Director of Teaching & Learning explains, “The program is an aggregate of other existing residency programs. We recognized the greater needs of our community and wanted to put together what the district has and combine it with our in-house residency program that serves our community and students.” his experiences while helping to design STARS and still does when he teaches in the existing String Theory Residency Programs. “I am hands-on and invested in this model. I became a teacher later in life through a program like this and can see the benefit from both the educator and student sides.”
If you are a current or aspiring educator interested in applying to the STAR or LIGHT program through String Theory Schools, you can reach out to the program contact, Dr. Thomas Mosca, who also serves as the Director of Teaching & Learning - tmosca@ stringtheoryschools.org. PRH
String Theory Schools is a member of the Philadelphia RowHome (PRH) Magazine Business Network.
MARTY’S BUCKET LIST
Adventures of a stray cat with a rare disease
by Brenda Hillegas
In January of 2021, Fishtails Animal Rescue received an email about a colony of stray cats in South Philadelphia. Their caretaker noticed one cat in particular, Marty, had mobility issues. With care from rescue founder, Dr. Lauren Cohn, and a visit to specialists at the University of Penn Veterinary Hospital, Marty was diagnosed with a rare storage disease and given 2-4 months before he would lose use of his limbs. A humane euthanasia would need to be discussed.
Marty immediately moved to Fishtown Animal Hospital, the veterinary practice owned by Dr. Cohn. As the official office cat, Marty enjoyed treats, playtime, exercise and therapies to keep him moving. Not knowing how many days Marty had left, Dr. Cohn and the board members of Fishtails Animal Rescue created a bucket list for him. Through the list, Marty was able to meet Flyers’ mascot Gritty, visit the Adventure Aquarium, wear a leprechaun hat and hope for a love letter from Taylor Swift.
Marty passed away on March 29th, 2022, just days after crossing off another bucket list wish - meeting the Easter Bunny. Thank you for giving Marty the best life ever and helping him defy the odds for more than a year!
Creating a bucket list for a beloved pet is a great way to make memories. Below are some of the Rescue’s favorite, simple list items for cats and dogs.
Take a walk in a park Have a picnic with friends Create paw print art Get a treat at the pet store Throw a party Sit in the sun together Enjoy a puppuccino Have a photoshoot Take a nap together Go to brunch Spend the day at a pool, ocean, or lake
Robert Spotlight Kerbeck
by Geno Thackara
People often head for New York City with dreams of acting. They also usually need jobs to live on while starting out. It’s somewhat less common that they stumble into corporate espionage instead of, say, bartending, but Robert Kerbeck readily admits his life has taken plenty of strange turns.
“My family’s lived in the Philadelphia area for well over 100 years. My great-grandfather sold horse carriages before cars were invented,” he relates about their areafamous auto business. “I worked there after I graduated from Penn, but car sales really weren’t for me.”
Kerbeck explains that the acting thing didn’t quite go as expected, either. Some word-of-mouth brought him a job that nobody would explain - which turned out as mysterious as it seemed. “We were infiltrating corporations to try to get them to tell us things about their plans and operations. Over time, I kind of became the world’s number-one corporate spy - at a certain point, my buddy and I got in the crosshairs of the authorities! And we were just actors that needed a job.”
Eventually, Kerbeck drifted back to his creative roots. “I was
an English major, so it was full circle back to the beginning,” he explains. The latest result is Ruse: Lying the American Dream from Hollywood to Wall Street, a thrilling recounting of the spy life and a fascinating eye-opener for anyone outside the corporate world. While the story could be the stuff of pulpy paperbacks, Kerbeck’s memoir is arguably even weirder because you couldn’t make this stuff up! “That’s been in the rearview for over a decade. It’s a lot easier LIFE to see it all in hindsight,” he says. Amidst the craziness, the book’s central theme isn’t so farfetched. “I hope what people get out of it is: what’s important is not where you get to, but that you go on a journey you want to go on. The right journey is its own reward.” Keeping busy with creative plans, including a Ruse TV series in development, Kerbeck is still happy to stay true to his roots. “Even living in Malibu, I love rooting against the Los Angeles teams,” he laughs. “Nothing makes me happier than when Philly wins. My wife is from LA, so I really rub it in when my team wins.” Surely, any true-blooded Philadelphian would agree that some things shouldn’t change, no matter where the journey goes. PRH
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