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Born David Conan Wolfsdorf, 27 August 1969, in Johannesburg, South Africa, to Joseph Isidore Wolfsdorf and Gail Ann Wolfsdorf (née Brittan) of Durban and Pretoria. Of Ashkenazi Lithuanian, Polish, and Hungarian stock. Emigrated with progenitors and two brothers, Ronan and Adam- subordinate both in age and in lack of middle names- to Chicago in 1975. Moved to Brookline, Massachusetts in 1976. Graduated from Driscoll Elementary School in 1984. Bar-mitzvahed at Temple Kehillath Israel in Coolidge Corner in 1983. Relinquished kleine jüdische Identität. Graduated from Brookline High School in 1987, having lost interest in cognizing and with a passion for visual art. Attended the Maryland Institute College of Art 1987-88, with aspirations to become a painter. Attended Boston University 1989-92, sobered up. Took Latin my first year and formed the aspiration to get a doctorate in classics. Studied a lot of languages. Attended University of Chicago 1992-97, received a doctorate in Classics with a dissertation on Plato. Nearly switched to philosophy in the process. Since 1997, have tried to make a career in philosophy. Little success. Met Janet Marie Lorenz in a yoga class in Philadelphia, summer of 2004. Bonded over a dog-walk along the Schuylkill River path one Sunday. Have been intelligently surrendering to her ever since. Presently cohabiting, matrimonially, in southwest Center City, sporadically doing housework, putzing around in our garden, fiddling on the acoustic six string, running, biking, rollerblading as often as my aging knees tolerate. Have occasional bouts of oil painting in a post-abstract-expressionist style. Read travel literature, history, and popular science for non-work pleasure. Love hiking, especially in the National Parks of the southwestern United States. Received a digital camera as a tenure gift from said progenitors some years ago and sporadically channel a long-lost, aesthetic sensibility into photographic slideshows (appended below— and note: the one on Philly at Dusk and Night has genuine aesthetic moments.) Reject David Benatar's and the Greeks' arguments for antinatalism. In other words, I'm happier than not that Joe and Gail caused me. |
PHOTOGRAPHIC SLIDESHOWS
