Herb has been a linksman for almost 75 years. “That’s a lot of time out on the greens,” laughs Herb. “And I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Herb didn’t grow up playing golf, but he picked it up in college where he met his wife, Helen. “I went to SUNY Cortland, and she went to Syracuse University. We’d meet in the middle and play golf together,” said Herb. “She was very good. After college I went in the Army and spent 14 months in Korea. When I came home, my wife had a brand-new set of clubs waiting for me. I’ve been regularly golfing ever since.”

Herb and his wife eventually moved to Roslyn, Long Island, where Helen taught first grade and Herb was Assistant Principal at Roslyn High School. “My buddy was the high school golf coach, so I would golf every day with the team,” said Herb. “Golf was a great way to connect with kids.”

After Herb and his wife retired from the Roslyn School District, they moved to Heritage Village, where they lived for 30 years. “Helen and I would golf at Silo Point Country Club,” said Herb. “When we decided to downsize in 2016, we toured Pomperaug Woods. They told us that one of the resident perks is that they pay for all greens fees and a golf cart at Silo Point. That was all I needed to hear. We didn’t look anywhere else. We moved to Pomperaug Woods in July 2016, and I’ve been golfing courtesy of Pomperaug Woods ever since. Helen’s health led her to stop golfing in 2017, but I’d still bring her out in the cart with me every time I golfed. We both enjoyed the game and we both enjoyed being together. It was time well-spent.”

Helen was diagnosed with dementia in 2020 and passed in 2022. “We were married 70 years,” said Herb. “She was a beauty. I think the biggest surprise of her life was the day I gave her a BMW convertible that I won by sinking a hole-in-one at a tournament. I’ve had three holes-in-one in my life. I’m not sure if I have another hole-in-one in my future, but after more than seven decades on the greens I’ve learned that you never know when lightning will strike.”

At 93 years old, Herb still golfs as much as he can. “Living at Pomperaug Woods is a wonderful experience,” said Herb. “Silo Point is a beautiful private golf course. I’m sure my annual golf tab totals at least $7,000, and I don’t pay anything. And when Pomperaug Woods added in new walking trails to its campus last year, they also installed a putting green as well. My back has been bothering me a bit, so I now use a long putter. It’s been great to practice with my new putter on our community putting green. Thank you, Pomperaug Woods! Living here feels like home.”