Genetic Occupations

There is evidence that our talents and occupational interests are inherited from our parents and grandparents. But our talents and interests are also unique and our similarities are subtle and random and we each choose our own path.

In our own families, we see similarities in talents, interests and occupational and marital choices. In my own family I can see talents for science, business, farming, leadership, learning, music, art, sports wit and humor, that blend with those same talents I find in my wife’s family. Individual talents and interest are scattered throughout 6 generations from our great grandparents to our great grandchildren with varying degrees of expertise. Many were gifted musicians, and artists, but their primary occupations were in science and business.

Our great grandparents were raised on family farms in the 1850s. Our grandparents and parents chose occupations in science and business in the 1900s. Talent for music, art, sports, learning and humor were also randomly lavished on these ancestors and their children. Our own children continue to show the same strains of talents and interests. Our grandchildren show a mix of similar talents inherited from their parents.

The choices our expanding family members made obviously reflects what they liked enough to develop their talents and interests. Free Will plays a big part in what choices are made and therein lies the diversity. 

My father’s family was rooted in science and business. Grandpa Leahy was a Chemist, Business Executive and Investor in Olin Chemical. We called him Daddy Warbucks because Olin was a major supplier of gunpowder and weapons for World War II.

My mother’s family was rooted in science, art and music.  Grandpa Couch was a Medical Doctor and Grandma was an opera singer.

My father Joe Leahy was VP Research & Development and Managing Director of Volkart Brothers in Brussels Belgium and founder of Leahy Realty in Dallas Texas.

I was a Personnel Director for a university and electrical, chemical, food and electronics manufacturing companies and founder of NTL Consulting in Atlanta GA.

My son Tim Leahy is a Sales Executive with Biomerieux, a French Medical Research company.

We preferred science-based environments and went to the “family schools”. The Leahy and Couch boys all attended Christian Brothers College and St. Louis University.

Histories of Biomerieux, Olin Chemical, Volkart Brothers, Barnes Medical College are below.

Norb Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader