* / 𝒗𝒊𝒐𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒅𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕

―Growing up in Birmingham for Hero was a touchy subject. His mother left his father when he was around ten years old. Dad hit the bottle hard after that, and it was up to him to take care of your four younger siblings early on. He never blamed his dad for his machismo. He wasn’t drunk that got violent. He was the kind of drunk that you felt sorry for. Still, it was hard not to resent his old man. he became the man of the house early on, and that was how his love of cooking started. ―Mum had been the one to do most of the cooking, with her gone, and dad to instead stand on his own feet let alone cook his children’s food. The responsibility fell on Hero. He even had to go grocery shopping, gather up all the kids, and make the trek to the farmers market. He does his best to entertain and distract his siblings on the long walks to and from. Singing songs and telling stories, all to keep their minds off things. ―But when it was time to cook, he liked the kitchen. Even as his little sister helped him out - his little sous chef. Sure, he got picked on when kids found out he was doing the mum’s job cooking the meals. In which case, they caught both of his fists. Hero was happy to take care of his siblings. Of course, he didn’t like it all the time. He didn’t like having to help his dad get up and out of bed each day and night. Didn’t like to cook all the time. He was a kid… but they were his family, and family was and would always be important to him. ―Eventually, though, Dad started drinking less. Became more present and aware that his children needed him. And he was grateful, at sixteen, knowing he needed the break, wanted the chance to enjoy his life, and boy did he do so with gusto. ―When it was time to figure out what he wanted to do, he knew it would revolve around food— or at least that is what he thought. Nothing thing he loved even more than cooking was telling stories. He never had the desire to be in the spotlight but bring stories to life, working behind the scenes he loved. ―It started with little short films and plays for the school for local film festivals. His creativity was able to blossom and bloom and he embraced it. As the years went on he — went to a prestigious film school. Stacking up thousands in debt, he eventually and slowly started to work on film and television, and for a while, he enjoyed being a PA and getting that experience. Eventually, though, the theater was more of his calling. So he and three of his siblings moved to New York and there he worked his way up the ranks as a director. ―Moving to East Haven was more of a needed mental retreat than anything. For over 20+ years he’d been burning the candle at both ends. He needed a little peace, needed a change of pace and scenery. Why not East Haven… of course, his self-imposed retirement didn’t last long. And soon took up a director job at the local performing arts center… guess old habits die hard.