Actively involved in the music scene since college, Zach Loavenbruck has participated in several bands as both a singer and musician. A talented and versatile performer, Zach Loavenbruck enjoys playing a Fender Rhodes electric piano. Zach Loavenbruck has also mastered the guitar, the melodica, and the Jew’s harp. The Jew’s harp, also known as the mouth harp, stands as one of the oldest instruments in the world. Serving with various bands as both a vocalist and a keyboardist, Zach Loavenbruck plays a variety of musical genres, including indie rock, alternative, folk, country, and psychedelic. Zach Loavenbruck has toured throughout New England and performed at hundreds of live venues. He and his bandmates recorded a CD in 1999, and he currently remains active in planning for an upcoming release with his current band. Zach Loavenbruck earned his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science at the University of Rochester. During his time there, Zach Loavenbruck won the Sigma Phi Epsilon Balanced Man Scholarship. After completing a Master of Science for Teachers at Pace University in Pleasantville, New York, Zach Loavenbruck undertook postgraduate work in educational psychology at the University of Connecticut. During his years as an educator, Zach Loavenbruck taught algebra, English, geometry, and reading, among other subjects, for several high schools in Connecticut. Utilizing his athletic skills, Zach Loavenbruck also coached a high school softball team and directed student theatre productions. The former Coordinator of Training & Organizational Support for Liaison International, Zach Loavenbruck provided training and professional development for employees in the IT Products and Services department. In recognition of his continued dedication to the company, he earned the International Award for Excellence. Dedicated to giving back to his community, Zach Loavenbruck supports the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA).
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Business professional Zach Loavenbruck possesses on-the-job experience managing small- to medium-sized teams, providing client support, overseeing corporate training, and streamlining internal company operations. A Coordinator of Training & Organizational Support for Watertown, Massachusetts-based Liaison International, Zach Loavenbruck maintains a busy life outside of the office, playing baseball, riding his mountain bike, golfing, and hiking. During his limited downtime, Zach Loavenbruck enjoys the poems and stories of Shel Silverstein, the essays and writings of David Sedaris, and the plays and novels of Gore Vidal.
An important figure in American literary history, Gore Vidal (b. 1925) has authored numerous plays, novels, short stories, and screenplays during his writing career. Vidal continues to produce moving works even today, like Gore Vidal: Snapshots in History’s Glare (2009) and The Selected Essays of Gore Vidal (2008). A political activist, Vidal ran for congressional office twice during his life and serves as a longtime outspoken, political critic.
Vidal published his first novel, Williwaw, at age 19. Williwaw described Vidal’s service with the U.S. Army Reserve in the Aleutian Islands during World War II. A few years later, he published one of his most controversial works, The City and the Pillar. Released in 1948, The City and the Pillar follows the life of a young man uncovering his homosexuality. One of the few gay novels of its era, The City and the Pillar incited criticism because of its theme of open homosexuality during a time when the openly gay were largely condemned.
Following The City and the Pillar, Vidal produced several screenplays for theater, television, and film. His Broadway successes, Visit to a Small Planet and The Best Man became popular movies. In 1956, Vidal joined Metro Goldwyn Mayer as a contract screenwriter. Over the next five-and-a-half decades of his life, Vidal turned out several novels, including Julian, Myra Breckinridge, and Hollywood, as well as notable plays like An Evening with Richard Nixon and Weekend.
Gore Vidal on Writing
[Posted by BookTV]
Gore Vidal Part 2 here
by Zach Loavenbruck
Though I thoroughly enjoy the historic novels of Gore Vidal and the humorous creations of David Sedaris, I am also a big fan of the timeless poetry and stories of Shel Silverstein. Among my favorite works of his are The Giving Tree, Where the Sidewalk Ends, The Missing Piece, A Light in the Attic, and Falling Up. Although originally intended for children, these best-selling books transcend age groups and have touched the hearts of thousands of people around the world. Born September 25, 1930, in Chicago, Illinois, Shel Silverstein started drawing during his adolescent years. By his early twenties, while serving in the Korean War, Silverstein was creating cartoons for Pacific Stars and Stripes, an independently operated newspaper dedicated to reporting the activities of the military. Soon after completing his military service, Shel Silverstein released Take Ten, a compilation of cartoons he’d penned for Pacific Stars and Stripes. The first eight or so years of Shel Silverstein’s career as a cartoonist were dedicated to adult fiction, including a multitude of cartoons drawn for Playboy magazine. Shel Silverstein’s first children’s book, titled Uncle Shelby’s Story of Lafacadio: The Lion Who Shot Back, was published in 1963. The Giving Tree, published a year later, narrates the story of a boy and a tree. In his earlier years, the boy enjoys climbing the tree, resting under it, and eating its apples. As he grows up, the boy uses more and more of the tree until it is just a stump. All the while, the tree gives itself unconditionally to the boy. This exploration of the parent-child dynamic between the tree and the boy strikes a chord with adults and children alike. Another of Shel Silverstein’s children’s books, The Missing Piece, was published in 1976. Following a circle-shaped character with a missing wedge, the tale chronicles the adventures he experiences while seeking his missing part. Once the piece finds his missing wedge and attaches himself to it, he realizes his wholeness hinders him in some activities he previously enjoyed. The character decides to part with his piece because of this, and on his merry way he goes. The story examines definitions and perceptions of happiness and fulfillment found through the pursuit of one’s goals. Where the Sidewalk Ends made its debut in 1974, A Light in the Attic in 1981, and Falling Up in 1996. All three collections are brimming with poetry about childhood themes and whimsical stories intended for the delight of fanciful imaginations. Shel Silverstein’s poetry and storytelling have charmed the public for decades and will probably continue to do so for decades more. I know I’ll continue reading them.
I am a proud supporter of the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA), which was founded in 1967 to fuel the race for a cure for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Crohn’s disease is the inflammation of the intestines resulting in a number of symptoms, including diarrhea, bloody stool, and abdominal pain, and is thought to be an autoimmune disease. Although there is evidence of a genetic link, there is still no concrete evidence about the disease’s cause, and treatment is limited to making its symptoms more bearable. Colitis is the inflammation of the large intestine or, more specifically, the colon. There are a wide range of factors that affect the symptoms, severity, and response to treatment for patients with colitis. Ulcerative colitis is characterized by ulcers in the colon. Severe cases of colitis are life threatening and may require surgery when the disease does not respond to antimicrobial agents or immune modulators. These two diseases fall under the umbrella term inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which also includes collagenous colitis, lymphocytic colitis, ischaemic colitis, diversion colitis, and Behcet’s syndrome. The CCFA strives to find cures and treatments for all manifestations of IBD. The Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America is now the leading source of funding for innovative studies conducted across the country. They also hold valuable workshops and symposia in order to facilitate networking among those in the field. The CCFA events are important venues for sharing research and providing feedback to other professionals. The foundation’s journal is also an invaluable resource for communication and important news related to these diseases. The National Institutes of Health has commended the efforts of the CCFA as they continue to spur advances against these terrible diseases. I would like to get the word out about this foundation and encourage others to contribute to help find a cure for this debilitating disease.
Mr. Zach Loavenbruck was most recently a Training and Knowledge Management Associate at OnForce, a leading website in the Information Technology and Services field. A driven and creative individual, Zach Loavenbruck has leveraged his superior communication skills toward a career in the educational and technology fields. Prior to his position at OnForce, Zach Loavenbruck served as a Coordinator of Training & Organizational Support for Liaison International. His job responsibilities at Liaison International included training and recruiting new talent and supporting professional development of employees across all departments.
Following his education in Political Science and Educational Psychology, Mr. Zach Loavenbruck went on to teach at various public high schools in Connecticut. His passion for ideas and learning was an asset for both him and his students. Zach Loavenbruck was well regarded by faculty, staff, and the student body, who enjoyed his enthusiasm and knowledgeable demeanor. Zach Loavenbruck taught a variety of high school courses, including Social Studies, Health, Algebra, Islamic Studies, Geometry, Language Arts, and Current Issues, as well as English and Reading Skills. Zach Loavenbruck worked in concert with a team of educators to lead a Current Issues course that was popular with his students. Zach Loavenbruck also worked on developing Leadership and Mission Statements for the faculty and student body. Zach Loavenbruck coached both Freshman and Varsity Softball and was also a key player in the dramatic arts. Zach Loavenbruck casted, produced, and directed school musicals and talent shows while working as an educator.
Zach Loavenbruck’s appreciation for learning can also be seen in his writing and poetry. An avid blogger, Zach Loavenbruck has utilized new technologies to disseminate his love of learning and passion for the written word. His writing can be seen on poetry.com, as well as on his personal blog.
A gifted musician, Zach Loavenbruck plays a variety of instruments, including the piano, guitar, and melodica.
Zach Loavenbruck currently resides in the Greater Boston Area.
Love many, trust few, and always paddle your own canoe
— Coach Ed Henry
