I attended Our Lady of Guadalupe Parochial School and New Utrecht High School in the Bay Ridge /Bensonhurst  area of Brooklyn.  Some of my early childhood experiences included serving as an Altar Boy and a Boy Scout.  As a teenager, I qualified as a Life Scout and was selected/installed in Scouting's prestigious Order of the Arrow. 

    In 1953 at the age of 17, I enlisted in the United States Air Force.  My induction was at 39 Whitehall Street in NYC and basic training was at Sampson AFB, New York.  After basic training I was assigned to the military police unit at Randolph AFB, San Antonio, Texas.  In May of 1954, I was re-assigned to Kadena, AFB on Okinawa where I was fortunate to meet my companion of more than fifty years.  Chiyoko was born and raised on the small island of Okinawa.  One of her childhood experiences, as an eleven year old, included the bloody and traumatic Battle of Okinawa. 

    During the next eighteen years, we received assignments to various USAF bases worldwide.  Some of these assignments included bases in Florida, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Dakota, Paris, France and Vicenza, Italy. My last overseas assignment before retirement was Nha Trang, Vietnam during 1968-69.  My exciting and rewarding military career produced many awards which included Airman of the Quarter, the Korean Service medal, Vietnam Service medal, U.S. Army Good Conduct medal, U.S. Air Force Good Conduct medal, U.S. Air Force Commendation Medal w/Oak Leaf Cluster, and Bronze Star.

    During this same period of time, besides receiving training and qualification as a private pilot and also qualifying as a glider pilot, God continued to bless us with three wonderful children, six awesome grandchildren, and one great grandchild.  Our eldest child Jim was born on Okinawa and is a Family Practice Physician with a state of the art medical clinic in Dalton, Georgia (primacare1.com).  Donna was born at Homestead AFB in Florida and is a much sought after Attorney with her own practice,  in Atlanta, Georgia.  Our youngest, Joe, was born in Orleans, France and is the family entrepreneur.  He is the President and CEO of the largest and most successful  Security and Sound business in Northwest Florida.  He has recently launched a successful dial-up  Internet Service Provider (ISP) business called atozbroadband.com.  All three of our children have a Pre-Paid Legal Service Membership and Identity Theft Protection Plan.

    Upon retirement from the USAF in February 1973, we opened the first Italian Submarine Sandwich Shop in Okaloosa County Florida.  It was an instant success.  During the next thirty years we owned and operated several successful businesses which included.....Outdoor Advertising, Licensed Real Estate Sales, and a full service Lock & Safe Company.  Upon successful completion of the very rigid State of Florida General Contractor Certification Exam, we entered into a very exciting and rewarding career in the construction industry.  Our Development and General Construction Corporation (Zupco Inc.), specializing in Commercial and Residential Construction,  included the development and construction of many single and multi-family homes including several medium sized residential sub-divisions in northwest Florida. 

    An active participant in the creation of the Shalimar, Florida Little League program is one of my proud experiences.  My appointment as State Financial Secretary in the Order Sons of Italy in America, Grand Lodge of Florida is another of my proud experiences.  I am a Charter member and Past President of Sons of Italy Lodge # 2422 in Ft Walton Beach.... and......a Founder of two Sons of Italy Lodges in Florida.....Buona Fortuna Lodge #2835 in Pensacola Florida, and Bill Zuppa Lodge #2845 in Panama City, Florida. 

    I was introduced to Pre-Paid Legal Service, Inc. by a local building inspector in 2001.  My initial reaction to his presentation was one of suspicion and disbelief.  I  suspected that he was using his position to sell me something I did not need and, I could not believe that such an awesome service was available for just pennies a day.

    After a forty minute presentation over lunch at a local Shoney's Restaurant, with the building inspector and a Pre-Paid Legal Regional Vice President, I agreed to investigate the powerful benefits of this Pre-Paid Legal Service.    The icing on the cake was when they explained the benefits of this amazing service and the  awesome opportunity to market this service with it's very generous compensation plan which includes lifetime residual income.  My experiences in several businesses provided the basis which enabled me to make the wise decision to become an Independent Associate with Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc.  It was an excellent "no brainer" decision and I only regret that I did not learn about this amazing benefit and opportunity thirty years ago.