Douglas J. Farnum: Jack of Many
Trades
Douglas
J. Farnum opened a comic book store with a partner, tried
his hand at stand-up comedy and worked at a series of
bagel shops in Brooklyn, concocting sandwiches that sold
like crazy.
Shortly after meeting Amy Leong, Mr. Farnum, 33, of
Brooklyn, decided he wanted to be able to support a
family. He asked his friend Gabriel Polmar to teach him
about computers, and ended up finding work as a software
specialist for Marsh & McLennan. He developed a
talent for finding ways to make incompatible systems
work, finding "that the incompetence of others provided
him with a challenge," Mr. Polmar said.
Last year, Mr. Farnum and Ms. Leong married. Some
things did not change. He continued to find pleasure in
comic books, parking-lot frisbee games and the aisles of
Toys "R" Us, where the couple acted "like two big kids,"
Mrs. Farnum said.
Still, some things changed. Mr. Farnum quit smoking
and started driving like an old man &emdash; a far cry
from the stomach-churning old days, Mr. Polmar said. "I
have too much to lose," Mr. Farnum had explained.
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