Avron Alberts:
CLASS OF 1965
North Miami Senior High SchoolClass of 1965
North miami, FL
Harvard Divinity SchoolClass of 2005
Cambridge, MA
St. John's CollegeClass of 1969
Annapolis, MD
Avron's Story
What a long strange trip it's been. But it all got me to a happy place, so it's been worth it.
1965-66: Went to St. John's College, Annapolis, MD; loved it; had a very good freshman year
1966-67: Counterculture swept me up; lost interest in classes; left school during spring term; suffered depression
67-69: Odd jobs in Miami; left in 69 to go back to St. John's
Summer 69: Went up to Woodstock, NY to visit a friend from high school; decided to move there; played flute with pianist from Van Morrison's band, later with a quartet, in clubs; it was amazing to be in that area during the Woodstock Festival
Winter 69: Manic episode; hospitalized
70: Returned to Florida; depressed again; began to work at odd jobs
71: Feeling better; enrolled at Florida Atlantic University; had one great semester taking all music courses
Spring 1972: Another manic episode; ended up in a Maryland hospital
Fall 1972: Back in Miami, wonderful psychiatrist diagnosed bipolar disorder; began to take lithium carbonate and began long process of recovery
1973-80: Worked as supervisor in a sheltered workshop, printed music salesman, owned and operated a tiny music store in a North Miami flea market, became a partner in a wholesale sheet music business
80: Met Phyl Randles at a Mensa gathering; moved to her home in Louisville, Kentucky
81-84: we were married; became stepdad to Phyl's 3 teenage kids; worked as placement counsellor, then as salesman for Yellow Pages advertising (I was not good at this); joined First Unitarian Church of Louisville, loved it, became quite active, decided to pursue ministry
82-84: Finished B.A. at University of Louisville, applied to Harvard Divinity School M.Div. program, was accepted
85: Phyl and I relocated to Cambridge, MA so I could start school in the fall
85-86: School unexpectedly difficult academically, had problems with largely Christian perspective in classes (I am Jewish by birth and early education), biggest problem was my food addiction; I weighed 320 pounds at the time; couldn't believe in myself as a caregiver when I needed so much help myself
Spring 86: withdrew after one semester; went to work in a Harvard office; learned about Overeate...Expand for more
rs Anonymous, began to work the program
86-87: lost 140 pounds in 13 months; began to understand my addiction to food and to recover; secured position in Registrar's Office at HDS
88: Divorced from Phyl (she couldn't handle my weight loss); later met Rita Schneider, linguist and college instructor in Spanish and French, fell seriously in love
88: We travelled to Buenos Aires, Argentina together (her birthplace and home until age 21, when she moved to Paris, then to Boston 8 years later); met her family
89: We were married.
90-91: Began to invest in small condominiums, following long-range plan of retiring early; found and bought "dream home", a condo on Miami Beach, 1 bedroom, 1 1/2 bath, gorgeous view of city and Biscayne Bay
92-05: Continued working while investing in Boston and Miami condos;
94: Rita became instructor in HDS Summer Language Program; taught every summer until 05; while maintaining faculty position at Northeastern University during academic year
05: Reached our goal! After 20 years at Harvard (me) and 26 years at Northeastern & Harvard (Rita), we both retired and relocated to Miami Beach
05-present: Enjoying our lives, hearing lots of concerts, members of UU Congregation of Miami, exercising (new to both of us), making friends, joining Jewish Humanists group
Now: moving to a condo in Hallandale (north of Miami Beach), after discovering that we weren't happy living in our apt., despite wonderful view and large rooms, because of incompatibility with most of our neighbors; I've been in remission with bipolar disorder for many years, still take care of myself with medication and regular psychiatric visits, but feel fine! No longer making music, but maybe one day I'll find the motivation and discipline; Many memories and adventures as musician;
Life is good.
I always wanted to be a musician when I grew up. My family and friends thought that was a foolish idea. As it turns out, they were wrong.
My parents were musicians who counselled me that music as a livelihood was very difficult choice of profession. I didn't prove them wrong, but my life was surely enhanced by my efforts as a flutist.
For many years, playing music; now listening.
Register for Free to view all details!
Yearbooks
Register for Free to view all yearbooks!
Reunions
Register for Free to view all events!
Photos
