Rob is a native of Norwich. He graduated Norwich Free Academy in 1986, the only student in his class to be awarded a National Merit Scholarship. In 1988 he married Ellen Leffingwell, also a Norwich native.
After graduating cum laude with a B.A. in Economics from Eastern Connecticut State University in 1990, Rob pursued graduate studies in Economics at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. While at UMASS, Rob was employed both as a teacher and researcher. Rob also taught at Springfield College, ECSU, and Three Rivers College.
Rob left UMASS in 1997 to start DownCity, an Internet service provider located in downtown Norwich.
Rob has a wide range of interests. He has been involved with Connecticut College's WCNI since 1989 and since 1992 has operated Sea of Noise, an electronic bulletin board open to the public. He and his partner are new members of the Eastern Connecticut Chamber of Commerce and the Chelsea Business and Professional Association. Rob is also a member of the Electronic Frontier Foundation.
Rob and Ellen have lived in Precinct 9 since 1989. They live in the old Rogers Farm house on Browning Road.
Copyright 1997 Robert Szarka