Thaddeus was born in Portland, Oregon, his early years unfolded like a westward yo-yo—first moving to Denver for grade school, then returning to the Pacific Northwest, where his roots run deep. He was raised in Goldendale, Washington, amid open hills, bicycles, dirt bikes, a favorite swimming hole, and a younger brother who often played the role of co-conspirator. The Columbia River was never far from sight, becoming a lifelong presence that has offered recreation, reflection, and inspiration for much of his work.

Over the years, his professional path has followed the current of the Columbia. He has worked closely with the industries and communities that rely on the river—agriculture, tribal nations, power generation, and water rights. Much like Mark Twain’s bond with the Mississippi, his relationship with the Columbia is both personal and poetic, shaping not only where he lives, but how he lives.

Today, he calls Astoria home, where he and his wife, Trish, run a small Bed and Breakfast—a role that involves equal parts hospitality and dishwashing. They Love welcoming guests who seek to unwind along this rugged stretch of coastline, watching storms roll in and breathing the salt air.

When not tending to the B&B, he’s in the air. A professional pilot with over 14,000 hours logged, he co-owns the local flight school at Astoria-Warrenton Regional Airport and continues to instruct, finding joy in helping new pilots discover their wings.

His children, now grown, are charting their own courses—one in Pasco, Washington, and the other in Fort Wayne, Indiana. At home, “Dad” duties continue thanks to Sidney, the spirited black lab, and two suspiciously well-coordinated black cats. And when the wind is right, he can often be found sailing the Columbia with friends, always chasing the horizon a little further west.