GatorRoeder’s Profile

I was born on August 6, 1971 in Fort Lauderdale. I am the son of two Ohio hippies who, after growing up 25 miles apart from each other, migrated to Florida without ever meeting, met, got married, gave birth to me followed a year later by my brother, and moved back to Ohio before producing my two sisters.

I was born a month early. My mother went water skiing while she was eight months pregnant with me. I was her smallest baby, weighing in at just over six pounds. I am now her largest kid (in many ways).

I spent most of my life in Sandusky, Ohio. I grew up a block away from Sandusky Bay, which is only separated from Lake Erie by the Cedar Point peninsula. Cedar Point is also an amusement park known as the roller coaster capital of the world (currently 17 world-class roller coasters). I therefore developed a love for water and roller coasters. In addition, I love music (although I have no talent for it). I especially enjoy rock ‘n’ roll, which has its hall of fame in Cleveland (only 20 minutes from my current home in Elyria). One of my many hobbies is writing poetry. My dream is having my work used as lyrics by a talented band. If my children led that band, that would make it even better.

I have worked full time since the day I turned 16 (21 years of unbroken work history). Most of my jobs have involved management, sales and customer service positions. After my wife of seven years left our children and me four years ago, it has become increasingly difficult for me to work the schedule I am used to working and be there for them. I am playing the single-parent game with my nine-year-old son, Jalen and my six-year-old daughter, Savannah. They are the focus of my life.