Born during WWII to Italian-American parents in Schenectady, New York, an industrial city, Gary Philip Guido can remember military equipment being built and tested on the street where he lived. His mother worked for both American Locomotive and General Electric on secret projects and was highly educated. His father was at that time working as a sand blaster for General Electric. His mother wanted him to have a good education, so he was enrolled in St. Joseph's Catholic School where he spent several years. His mother was an avid reader and shaped his education by having him read classics such as Treasure Island, Kidnapped, The Count of Monte Cristo, and many others. He was also introduced to Greek mythology and the works of Homer at a very young age. Reading was his escape and he could visualize himself in many of the novels he read. Eventually, he went to public school, but in his words "unfortunately left before graduating to join the military." After his discharge, he returned to Schenectady and married. He also returned to school at night to receive his High School Diploma. His marriage produced four boys who were joined over the years by four girls they took in. As a youth, he was a Boy Scout and continued as an adult volunteer. Scouting was a passion of his, and he was involved for the rest of his life. He volunteered with the American Red Cross as a First Aid Instructor and with his local YMCA as a SCUBA instructor. He became affiliated with a children's home and then became a member of the Board. Working a plethora of jobs to support his growing family from driving big rigs to operating equipment, and doing electrical and plumbing work, he continued his education through Empire State College and earned an MBA and MSW over the course of several years. It was around this time, he became Chairman of the Board for a group of homes for abused and neglected children, a position he held for many years. Eventually, he became Chief Executive Officer for the facility and after many years at the helm, he retired. Living in the northeast with its cold winter climate, his wife Susan and he decided to move to Melbourne in Central Florida for the winter months in 1999. Writing was not new to him when he wrote a trilogy about the animals on their camp property in Ticonderoga, which is in the Northeastern section of New York State. Over the years, Gary had written manuals and long range plans for work and for the Boy Scouts of America, where he volunteered for over half a century. The trilogy was written for his three younger granddaughters who live in Colorado and Southern Florida. It was at the urging of a good friend who is a College professor and accomplished author that he decided to have the works published. After much thought, he did give in and now people from every corner of the country and as far away as Australia are reading his stories. As an author of children's books, Gary used nature to capture the imagination of the reader. It was his hope that his books will give you a love for God's creations. His hobbies included woodworking and volunteering his time helping others with their projects as well as writing. If you asked Gary about his beliefs, he would tell you "they are Christian, and I try to adhere to its values." Gary lived from October 1942 to January 9, 2020.
