Jeff Kublin

Updated 2019:

I finished my 43-year professional career in the field of computers at the end of 2012, and have been retired since then. I began in that field back before it was seemingly the place to be. In fact, I believe Bill Gates was just starting high school at the time. From what I understand, however, he seems to have done a bit better than I did over the years. So did Steve Jobs – at least until a few years ago. Beginning as a systems representative for a couple of major computer manufacturing and marketing companies, my career path included several years as a college computer center director, a professor of computer science and the founder of two different computer-related companies – one a computer consulting business, the other a website design business. My current job as a professional retiree is my favorite, by far.

I find it remarkable that at this stage of my life, I am having the best time ever. Retirement definitely agrees with me. Having lived in Massachusetts for the first 21 years of my life, followed by 27 years in upstate NY and 15 years near Savannah, GA, I moved to The Villages in central Florida in 2011. The Villages is an incredible 55+ community. However, if you are envisioning a bunch of senior citizens with one foot in the grave, you couldn't be more wrong. People come here to live, not to die. I have never been so busy with fun activities – activities that I never would have envisioned as being a part of my life. It is impossible to describe this place to anyone. They have to experience it.

Since moving here, I have played in a softball league, played pickleball (yes, that is really a game), and gone to clown school and become a clown. I also play water volleyball, play billiards, go hiking and bicycling. I am a member of the Apple Users Group, Red Sox Nation, and The Villages Magic Club. Magic has become a passion of mine as I have attended many magic conventions and have even performed for clubs, birthday parties, house parties and have done walk-around magic at restaurants. I have also become involved in theater production from backstage to onstage. I go occasionally to state parks, museums, race tracks, Red Sox games when they play Tampa, and many concerts. I play golf once or twice a week. I have a trivia team that completes once or twice a month. I've also managed to do some traveling, having ventured to Russia, Cuba, Australia and New Zealand. My typical day has two or more activities. Other than that, I just hang around. Life is good!

I have two sons and five grandchildren. My older son, Scott, lives in Savannah, GA. He has three daughters, ages 22, 20 and 16 this year. My younger son, Brad, lives in Tucson, AZ with his wife and two sons. His boys are 21 and 17. I have no idea how I have grandchildren that old!

As for the rest of the family, my Dad is still doing very well at 95. He lives in Delray Beach, FL in the winter and in Sharon during the summer. In fact, he still has the same house on Massapoag Ave, as when I lived there. Sadly, my Mom passed away in 1968 while I was still in college. My brother Stan and his wife Donna live in Anthem, AZ. My sister Amy and her husband Steve and their three children live in Tucson, just a few miles from where my son Brad lives.

My life partner, Elena, and I have been together for over six years. A native of Russia, she has lived in The Villages for more than 10 years. She's pretty good at English. I'm pretty bad at Russian, although I did take a course in it through our local College of Lifelong Learning.

I do keep in touch with some of our fellow classmates. It's one of the perks of locating “missing” classmates and handling the communication and website. It's always a kick to successfully track down people who I haven't seen or heard from in decades.

I try to squeeze in a trip the Northeast for a couple of weeks each summer since moving to the South. It's a nice respite from the heat and humidity and gives me to opportunity to visit with a few of our classmates. I also travel to the small town in upstate NY where I lived for so many years so that I can visit friends there.

With so much of my family now living in Arizona, it has become a tradition to travel there each year for a Thanksgiving celebration.

It's been 50 years since I left Sharon, but I enjoyed my many years there and appreciate the high-quality education that the school system provided.