Jack ADINOLFI

Jack Adinolfi

After graduating from Staples in the summer of 1961 I went into the family business, Community Dry Cleaners, in West After graduating from Staples in the summer of 1961 I went into the family business, Community Dry Cleaners, in Westport where I worked until May of 1964 when I was drafted into the US Army. I did my basic training at Fort Dix, NJ and my Communications Specialist training at Fort Knox, KY.

After Fort Knox I was assigned to the C Troop, 2nd Recon Squadron, 2nd Armored Cavalry in Bindlach, Germany. Our units mission was patrolling the East German, Chech and West German boarders. I was discharged in

May of 1966 and came back to Westport to take over the family business which I ran until May of 1988.

In December of 1974 I married Diane Walters of Norwalk. Diane had three children, Michael, Shari and Lori at the time. We spent a lot of our free time camping on Cockenoe Island or at a campground in Preston, Connecticut. We also spent many vacations camping including Cape Cod, Nova Scotia and Maine.

In 1984 our first grandson was born, Robert, followed by Richard, Joe, Jessica and Dillon. In June of 2010 Robert and his wife Hannah gave us our first great grandchild, William. Not to be outdone by his brother, Richard, gave us twins, Zoey and Richard Jr., in October of 2010.

In 1988 I sold Community Dry Cleaners and we moved to Ludlow, Vermont. Diane and I built a log home on eleven acres in Ludlow. During the time in Ludlow we raised milk goats, freezer pigs, chickens for eggs and donkeys. I had a 1952 Ford farm tractor which was used for hauling wood and snow plowing. Looking for something to do I took a job at Okemo Mountain Resort ski area as a pump station operator. I was not ready for retirement yet and I guess I still am not. After one winter running the pump station I was hired as a purchasing agent in the outside operations department. During my 17 years at Okemo I won a trip for a week at Sapphire Beach Resort in Saint Thomas, USVI at one of the first employee parties after I started working there. As well as being a purchasing agent I was the Hazmat Officer for the resort. I was responsible for collecting, inventorying, storing and preparing for shipment all the hazardous waste the resort generated. My background in handling the hazardous waste at the dry cleaning plant came in handy. I was also the Incident Commander at the resort in case of any hazardous spill or emergency. I served on the Safety Committee at the resort until I retired in 2005.

Along the way I have been an officer and president of several organizations including the Westport Striped Bass Club, the Norwalk Ski Club, the Norwalk Aquarium Society, the Vermont Auctioneers Association and the Ludlow Area Lions Club. I also served on the Planning Commission for the town of Ludlow, Vermont and ran and lost a bid for selectman of Ludlow.

After retiring the plan was to build another log home on property we own overlooking the Atlantic Ocean in Port Joli, Nova Scotia. When we started clearing the property for the house Diane said that she would like to travel instead of building the house.

That brings us to our current way of life. We live full time in our 36 foot 5th wheel trailer and travel around the US whenever the spirit moves us. At this time we have visited 46 of the lower 48 states with only North and South Dakota to go. We have spent three winters in Tucson, Arizona and two in Ocklawaha, Florida.

During the summer we have worked camped at Lake George Escape Camping Resort in Lake George, New York for the past four summers. We worked in a department called Fun and Games so we would get paid to have fun. This year we have taken a job at our winter campground in Ocklawaha, Florida and will be spending the summer there helping the owner run and maintain the campground.