Fred Wurtzel Bio

I have a profound belief in the God-given dignity of every individual human and the preciousness of God’s creation that he trustingly gave to us as His steward. These 2 beliefs are inextricably linked, since stewardship without the ability to affect change is meaningless and unless everyone is equal in God’s sight, we would have little belief in the power of the individual or our own ability to make a difference.

I am blessed by my marriage, for more than 30 years, to my wonderful wife Mary. We have 3 fantastic children, Fred, born 1977, Maria, born 1980 and Marc, born 1989. Mary and I are both blind and have lived in 3 states during our marriage. We enjoy music, traveling, reading and participate actively in our church. I am more of an outdoors lover than Mary, though she makes a valiant effort of getting out. We have recently begun to participate in a local birding group for blind people who wish to learn birding by ear.

I have worked hard in my life to make the world a little better than when I arrived. My education includes a Bachelors Degree in Public Administration from Eastern Michigan University and A Masters in Public Administration from Western Michigan University. My professional life involved working as a public transportation researcher at the University of Michigan, a planner in the Comprehensive Employment and Training Administration (CETA), a development and public relations person for an agency called Alternatives for the Blind in Living and Employment (ABLE), a supervisor/counselor for the Nebraska agency for the blind and an administrator in the Michigan Commission for the Blind’s Business Enterprise Program that provides jobs for blind people.

In addition, I have served and continue to serve on many non-profit boards and various committees devoted to positive change. I presently serve as President of the National Federation of the Blind of Michigan, and a board member on the Institute for Innovative Blind Navigation. I have served as elder of my church, on transportation advisory boards, barrier free design boards and other similar organizational committees and boards including a former board member of Opportunities Unlimited for the Blind (OUB) operator of Camp Tuhsmeheta, a camp for blind children.

I have always been a technology buff, though I am nothing like a techie. I love the computers and adaptive technology that have allowed me to accomplish more than I ever could have without it. My first computer was a Texas Instruments TI 99-4A, a very early talking computer that utilized a cassette player as its storage. I have participated on a lot of committees and seminars on technology. I am very proud to serve as a trainer for GW Micro. I have been using related products dating back to the Computer Aids Corporation (the predecessor of GW Micro). I have found GW Micro’s Personnel, products and service to be of the highest integrity and quality. It is a company I can believe in.

I am about one third finished with a novel. I like to write, though my novel progress is not a good indicator. I find writing a liberating experience. Writing allows me to dig deep for meaning and clarity in my other life activities. It appears to me that writing has done more to change the world than any other single force of man. I like the idea of being a part of that collective power for good.

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