Fred N. Grayson

I am currently living in Ridgefield, CT. I’ve been here for 18 years, after living in NYC from 1965 until I moved up here in 1989.

I have been a book publisher/packager since 1970, in my own business since then. As a packager, I produce books for other publishing companies, under contract to them. We do everything from hire authors to get books ready for the printer. Since I’ve lived in Connecticut, I work at home. With the phone, Fax, and Internet/Email, there’s no reason to even go outside—except to get my morning Starbucks. The books we produce are primarily reference books, test preparation (SATs, GREs, and local and state tests), as well as high school or college review books.

In addition, for the last 10 years, I’ve been running a website with a partner, www.petswelcome.com. It’s the largest pet-travel site on the Internet, featuring thousands of hotels, motels, B&Bs, etc. in the US, Canada, and International countries, as well as other pet-travel-related areas. I’m waiting for Google to buy me for a couple of billion dollars.

I’ve been married for almost 18 years to Valerie (nee Levy, a graduate of GNHS South), and we have a 14-year-old daughter, Emily, who just started High School. It keeps me young. I also have three other children, Scott, 44, Deborah, 33, and Andrew, 29. Add five grandchildren to the mix.

What else keeps me occupied? Well, having a 14 year old is probably the most time-consuming thing. She’s completely involved with dance, and loves the theater, and we go quite often. I still play piano, and have been studying electric guitar for the last couple of years—which has become my passion. I may not be good, but I’m loud!

My message to the Class of ’57 is “THINK YOUNG—IGNORE THE ACHES AND PAINS!”