The story of a Brooklyn-born twin who chased success, nearly lost everything, and discovered in his second life the answer to one question: what really matters?
This is the story of a life, and the lessons learned along the way. An honest, warm and hopeful memoir about ambition, adversity, family and the freedom to finally ask what matters most.
Born a twin into an Italian-American family in Brooklyn, he was ambitious, eager and impatient to fulfill his dreams of success. He married, earned his MBA and started a family. Then an insidious medical condition almost ended his life three times within a decade and left him disabled. It changed everything: how he measured success and what was most important.
His second life began in his 46th year, when his medical condition forced him to stop working. As terrible as that was, it gave him the priceless gift of unrestricted time. Time to think and ask “What really matters in life?” Time to make his wanderlust dreams a reality.
From the streets of Brooklyn to a van on a Key West beach, the moments that shaped both lives.
Raised in a close Italian-American family in Brooklyn, New York.
Ambitious and eager, he built a career and raised his family in New Jersey.
An insidious medical condition nearly ended his life three times and left him disabled.
Forced to stop working, he received the priceless gift of unrestricted time.
A winter refuge by the sea, and the start of years of travel across the US and abroad.
Living with his wife in Florida, and returning whenever he can to his beloved Sicily.
Time to think and ask, “What really matters in life?”Emil Imbro · Fate Gave Me Two Lives
Emil Imbro grew up in Brooklyn, New York. He raised his family in New Jersey and found a winter refuge in Key West, where his van became his beachside home. He now resides near Ft. Lauderdale with his wife.
He has traveled extensively in the US and abroad. Sicily remains his favorite destination because he loves reconnecting with his family, past and present.
Four places, two lives. Each one holds a chapter of the journey.
Where it all began in 1947, a twin in a lively Italian-American family.
A winter refuge, where a van parked by the water became a beachside home.
His favorite destination, and a way of reconnecting with family past and present.
Home today, shared with his wife under the Florida sun.
A memoir for anyone who has faced a turning point and wondered what comes next. Choose your format and start reading today.
For book clubs, speaking invitations, interviews and reader letters, Emil would love to hear from you.