My connection to Liberty Lutheran runs deep. Raised Lutheran in a family devoted to social ministry, I learned early on the importance of gratitude and giving back—it’s in my DNA.
My grandfather immigrated from Germany when Henry Heinz offered him a job. After leaving Heinz, he founded Zieger and Sons, a thriving flower business in northwest Philadelphia that served the region for over a century.
Growing up in Philadelphia, I attended St. Peter’s Lutheran Church on West Oak Lane. My parents were involved in Germantown Lutheran Home, and my father served on the board of Mary J. Drexel (now The Hearth at Drexel). Though my mother never lived there, it was always her dream.
Following their example, I became involved with Germantown Lutheran and later served on the Artman board. While attending St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Olney, I joined the board of Lutheran Children and Family Services (LCFS), then housed in the church basement.
During my time on the board, I was involved in bringing LCFS, Artman, and Paul’s Run together to form Liberty Lutheran. After the merge, I served on Liberty’s board for almost 20 years.
I have known Liberty’s President and CEO, Luanne Fisher, since her early days at Germantown Lutheran. Her visionary leadership has grown and strengthened Liberty in remarkable ways. From compassionate care for older adults to rebuilding lives after disasters, Liberty exemplifies Christ’s call to love our neighbor.
My wife, Bonnie, also has a long history of service with Lutheran ministries and nonprofits. Sharing a passion for giving back, we established a charitable trust to support the organizations that matter most to us.
As we’ve been blessed in our lifetime, our vision is to be a blessing to others—now and for generations to come.
