We recently connected with Rick Lockenbach and have shared our conversation below.
Rick, we’ve been so fortunate to work with so many incredible folks and one common thread we have seen is that those who have built amazing lives for themselves are also often the folks who are most generous. Where do you think your generosity comes from?
My strongest inspiration is my mother, who at age 90, is still showing the way when it comes to giving of herself to make life better for others. She coordinates an annual fundraising drive at her synagogue for a domestic abuse facility. I have had so many blessings in my life: health, family, and relative financial security. It motivates me to do what I can to make a difference in the lives of others, particularly those who have gotten the “short end of the stick” in their lives. In Judaism, one of our core values is Tzedakah, which combines charity and justice. The way I see it, when we give charity we are working to make for a more just world. And that is what we should not just aspire for but do whatever we can to bring us closer to that just world.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
In my career, I pursued employment where I thought I could make a difference for others. Among the jobs I had were as an attorney representing indigents in civil legal matters, working with homeless families with children, and managing education initiatives for persons with developmental disabilities. I assumed leadership and other roles for non-profits whose missions addressed affordable housing, food insecurity, homelessness, and developmental disabilities.
I started learning about the experiences of my father-in-law, then Lt. David Stein, who was a navigator on a B-17 in WWII before his plane was shot down. It evolved into a book, Navigator Down, A Jewish P.O.W. in Nazi Germany. I want to share the stories about what he and other airmen, Jew and non-Jews, experienced during the war to help people better understand the human side of war. For David, the totality of his experience included his training before being shipped overseas, life on an Italian base, 40 bombing missions, capture and interrogation after his bomber was shot down, internment in a German stalag, liberation and its aftermath, and finally, the return stateside.
My wife and I are passionate about international travel. As we have travelled, we have hungered to learn more about the Jews and the history and culture of the countries we have visited. After our travels, I have written short travelogues about those countries that weaved our travel experiences with the history and culture of that country and its Jews. In Thessaloniki Greece, a city that had centuries of a vibrant Jewish presence, we had a local tour guide who was Jewish. What I learned on this tour and elsewhere in the country piqued my interest in Greek Jews, which I knew very little about. It has motivated me to write a book about that country and its Jews that is currently in draft form. To live your life to the full, find what your passions are and then avidly pursue them.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
I have benefited greatly from others who have helped me improve my writing skills. For most people, it is important to be a decent writer for employment and elsewhere in life. It took me awhile to come around to the notion that I should take my writing seriously, which may be a funny thing for a lawyer to say.
One should always be willing to learn from others. We should not assume we have a monopoly on knowledge, even in an area that we may be considered to be an expert in. I would chalk this up to humility and consider this part of my thirst for knowledge.
I learned early on the positive impact that teachers can have as I was going to school. I yearned to be a lawyer when I grew up, so I became one because I didn’t consider many other career choices. I ended up practicing law for only a short time. The bulk of my career before retirement, I worked as an educator. It served to solidify my respect for that profession and those who have made it their career.
All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?
I finished my first book last fall. I hadn’t given a lot of thought to marketing it, as my main preoccupation was getting it completed and self-published. Soon after I published it on Amazon, I devoted most of my efforts to promoting it among those who are interested in WWII history. This included posts about the book on Facebook pages for the stalag (German POW camp) my father-in-law was interned in and the Bombardment Group he flew with. I attended a military reunion of the 15th Air Force he served with.
The book also covers experiences of other Jewish bomber airmen who served along with my father-in-law. I have placed an ad in an international Jewish women’s magazine and am exploring other avenues to purchase ads to market to persons of the Jewish faith. My family has taught a class at our synagogue about the book.
My wife and I have done readings at two local Rotary Clubs. I am working on a reading at a local bookstore.
A friend is working on setting up readings at a library and book club.
I plan to meet with marketing professionals to discuss social media and other avenues to generate more interest in the book.
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