I grew up in Scotia New York ( across the Mohawk river from Schenectady, THE CITY THAT LIGHTS AND HAULS THE WORLD...well it was, in the 1950's, as it was home to both G.E. and ALCO (= American Locomotive Company, builders of, among others, the Big Boy http://www.trainweb.org/jlsrr/bigboy/information/bigboy%20information%20center.htm )

Went to Union College http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_College

worked in various corners of RF (= radio-frequency) & HV (= high-voltage) engineering & physics (accelerator/light source), near Boston, San Diego, and Switzerland. Now back in high volts & little pulses, still in Switzerland.