I was born and raised in the Worcester area and currently reside here with my wife, Melissa, and two dogs, Murray & Oscar. I am a small business owner who enjoys traveling when possible but also enjoys being at home with my family and friends. My wife and I have a passion for traveling and visiting fascinating places from Tahiti to Uganda. We lived for many years in New York City, returning home to be with our family and friends and to cultivate a life in the place that has always been home.
Please tell us about your current career and what you love most about what you do?
I am the owner of M. Pope & Co. Fine Jewelers in Worcester. I am a trained jeweler and gemologist with a business marketing background. Our focus is fine jewelry and custom design. There are many rewarding aspects of my job such as developing friendships with many of our regular customers, working with a strong team of professionals, which is truly a second family to me, and lastly, seeing the excitement, joy and emotion on the faces of our clients when we deliver a special piece of jewelry that we have created for them.
What is your favorite restaurant in Worcester, and what is your favorite dish?
Mare e Monte on Wall Street. My dish is the Veal Parmesan.
Who is the most interesting person you’ve ever met?
I’ve met many interesting people over the years. However to keep it local, meeting and getting to know Suzanne St. Pierre, a Worcester resident and retired CBS producer, has always been memorable.
If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be and why?
London, England. My family and I have been there many times, and it never disappoints as one of the greatest cities with so much to do and see.
What is your go to band when you can’t decide what to listen to?
Not a band but Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong
What is your best advice?
Follow your instincts….if you have good ones.
What is one of the top three items on your Bucket List?
Become a parent, live in another great city (during retirement), and learn to hit a golf ball without shear embarrassment!
What current/former local business makes you the most nostalgic about Worcester?
Sharfmans Jewelers. This is where I met my wife as a teenager working as a stock boy when the store was located in The Worcester Center Galleria / The Worcester Center Fashion Outlets. Sharfmans has always been a part of my life. My mother worked there for over 20 years and my in-laws are still running it today.
Choosing anyone alive and a non-relative with whom would you love to have lunch? Why?
Elon Musk, to find out what the big deal is
Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?
I hope to find myself comfortably working and enjoying parenthood (while still being able to travel).
What is something interesting that most people don’t know about you, even your friends or family.
One of my favorite things to do when I am in a big city is to just wander and see what I find. I can do this for hours and hours much to the frustration of my wife.
What 3 words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
Family, Love, Comfort.
If a motion picture was made of your life, what actor/actress would you choose to play you?
Tom Hanks
What is your favorite thing or something unique about Worcester?
A big city close to the countryside and accessible to many other major cities.
What is your favorite smell?
Oranges
Who inspires you to be better?
My entire family.
