BESIDES PASTA, My Early Years, recounted my family history as I knew it as a young boy. It traced my experiences from the age of six to fourteen. We lived in Newark, New Jersey. The major event during that time was the death of my best friend Mark Stillman. I was a freshman at Saint Benedict's Prep in Newark, New Jersey. Marky was a junior in public high school. BESIDES PASTA TWO, My Middle Years covers high school, college, medical school, internship, residency, military service, practice as a family doctor, and the beginning of my academic career. Family life throughout that period is an integral part of the narrative. The memoir is not a homogenous blend of joyous events, but one where the loss of loved ones at a young age, the support and sacrifices of a loving family, outstanding teachers, and the support of a loving wife imbued me with the energy and determination to pursue my dreams. I