New Member Spotlight: Alfred (Alfy) Wolfram

Joined HumanistsMN: November 2020

Profession/Residence: I began my professional career as a teacher of American history, speech, and theater in high school.  After a decade, with a wife and new baby to support, I decided to go into business.  I spent 23 years in insurance and investments.  However, all the while I only wanted to realize my desire and need to be an actor.

Finally, over a 10-year period, I made the transition to professional acting.I eventually found my calling writing, producing, and performing one-man shows which I toured throughout the U.S. and Great Britain for 20 years.  All were historically based.

I was especially known for a show entitled “The Shakespeare Man,” which dealt with the life and times of William Shakespeare, giving almost 700 performances.  I was also a featured act at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival for 15 years. I live in North St. Paul.

How he found us: I actually discovered HumanistsMN by accident on the Internet.  While I am not much of one to join groups, the overall concept and viewpoints expressed appealed to me.

His journey to humanism: Raised a Lutheran, by adulthood I realized this was not what was in my heart.  Wanting to give our three children a spiritual base, my wife and I raised them in a Quaker Meeting.  However, over time I realized I had more questions than answers, thus becoming an agnostic in the truest sense of the word.  Even before I discovered HumanistsMN, I was introduced to  “The Affirmation of Humanism: A Statement of Principles.” This was the first affirmation of a belief I felt I could honestly say I believed in and could accept as mine.  That is about it.  Nothing dramatic — no startling revelations into the essence of the universe.  Just a lifelong journey which is far from over.

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5 comments

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    • Marcy Woodruff on December 8, 2020 at 5:40 pm
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    Welcome, Alfy! Hope to meet you in person in the near future!

    • Christine E Retkwa on December 8, 2020 at 10:27 pm
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    Welcome, Alfy! You indeed sound like a humanist – in your thought-full, inquiring approach. I hope you find friends and activities you enjoy within this group.

    • meline Juarez on December 22, 2020 at 11:25 am
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    Welcome, Ally! I’m sure you will find many “like-minded” folks in this wonderful group. Can’t wait to meet you in person and possibly have you perform for us in the future!

    • Alfred Wolfram on January 7, 2021 at 2:36 am
    • Reply

    Thank you so very much for those kind words. For most of my life I have not been very much of a joiner of organizations. The reality is I could not find any I felt fit me and who I was. To parapharse Thoreau, I guess I merely felt compelled to march to the beat of my own drummer. I truly feel privilaged to be associated with individuals who espouse the beliefs and values of a humanist. I am looking forward to the end of the Covid madness so I can meet many of you in person. Peace.

    • Paul Hardt on November 27, 2022 at 5:36 pm
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    Alfy, great to “see” you again. I’ve been curious about what you’ve been up to. Please contact me…I’d like to learn more about HumanistsMN. 651-529-4071.

    Paul Hardt

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