I am pretty much a life long resident of Bel Air. My parents moved to Bel Air when I was one. I went to all the Bel Air elementary and middle schools and graduated from Bel Air High School in 1983. After I graduated from Penn State four years later, I moved to Towson for a few years and married a Bel Air girl. My wife, Jill, and I realized we wanted to raise our family in the Bel Air / Harford County area so we moved to Abingdon for a few years, and before long our two children entered the world. In 2004 we decided to buy a “fixer upper” in the town of Bel Air and we have been working on that house ever since. Bel Air is is a great place live, work, and play. We love it so much that in 2008 we moved my insurance office into Bel Air and we have never looked back.
Q: Please tell us a little bit about your family.
I have been happily married to my wife, Jill for 32 years. We have two children, Sully and Mary Kate who are both graduates of St. Margaret School and The John Carroll School. Sully works with me in our insurance brokerage and Mary Kate just became a hospital nurse in Charlotte, NC.
Q: Please tell us about your current, past, or future career. What do you love most about what you do?
Gerety Insurance celebrated our 25th Anniversary in 2023. We are proud to be an integral part of the Bel Air community. We love helping people, before, during, and after a claim occurs.
Q: What are a couple of your favorite restaurants in our community?
For special occasions, we love to visit Pairings Bistro – great food, great wine. A regular spot we like to visit is Sizzling Bombay. “M.D”., the owner always has a smile on his face and makes some great Chicken Tikka Masala.
Q: How long have you lived or worked in our community?
I have lived in Bel Air since 1965! Our insurance office, which is also in Bel Air will celebrate our 26th anniversary in 2024.
Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in our community?
My most interesting Bel Air native is Phil Raub. Phil is a former insurance executive at our very own Harford Mutual Insurance Company and is also a past mayor of Bel Air. Phil has given a lot back to the Bel Air community over the years and he is always willing to give a hand or provide knowledgeable advice.
Q: What is one of your favorite movies? TV shows?
M.A.S.H. I know I am showing my age but that is a classic.
Q: What advice would you give to people?
2 pieces of advice: 1) The Golden Rule: Treat others as you yourself wish to be treated, and 2) Use your blinker! Why have people stopped using their blinker?
Q: What current or former local business makes you the most nostalgic about our community?
The old Bel Air Bakery. Stopping by there for donuts after church on Sundays. Some of the recipes have been handed down to Newberry Cafe, which now occupies that space.
Q: If you could choose anyone that is alive today and not a relative; with whom would you love to have lunch? Why? And where locally would y’all meet for this lunch?
How about Sebastian Maniscalco? Who doesn’t like to laugh? I would probably meet him over a cocktail at Barrett’s On The Pike.
Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about our community?
Bel Air has a great recreation sports program. The parents and volunteers are the reason why it is so top notch.
Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?
I am thinking I will still be living and working in Bel Air.
Q: (Even for friends or family), what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
I was actually born in New Orleans and moved to Bel Air when I was less than a year old.
Q: What would you rate a 10 out of 10?
My wife and I were fortunate to do a Hawaii trip last year and got to visit three of the islands. The location, the people, the weather all get 10 out of 10.
Q: Who inspires you to be better?
My kids and my clients.
Q: What community service or volunteer work do you participate in for your local community?
1) I am the Chairman of the Town of Bel Air Board of Appeals. 2) I am the Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors for Freedom Federal Credit Union 3) Gerety Insurance sponsors an annual matching fund drive for Mason-Dixon Community Services and 4) Gerety Insurance sponsors the Toys For Tots drive each year.
Q: Finally, what 3 words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
1) “Home is where the heart is”, 2) Home is where families gather, and 3) Wunnerful Home Solutions.
