Richard L. Rotelli, a Framingham, MA native, has always had a flair for storytelling. Even as a youngster, he would entertain family and friends with his original tales. But he was in a unique position to document the life and times of Floyd Niles Walser as well as his own father’s extraordinary inventiveness, in the book A Creative Odyssey. This work is his first published book and is partially the result of the memories he has of the times when Floyd lived in his home in the late ‘40s and ‘50s, as well as recollections of his father’s unique skills.

          The book took three years to write, with much of that time spent researching background material, especially for the early 20th century times and places. It was surprising that in spite of knowing “Tex” (as Floyd was sometimes called) for more than a decade, there was so much more to learn of his early years.

          Mr. Rotelli is a 1952 graduate of Framingham High School and went on to earn a B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute in 1956.

          He is retired from 38 years in the engineering profession, where his skills as a writer were often put to good use. He and his wife, Pat, have four children, seven grandchildren and three step-grandchildren.