A visit with Gilfry at his home in Etiwanda provides a peek at what is most important to him. Each of his children surfaces at different times—depending on when they get home from school or drama rehearsal—and makes a point, with their dad providing instructions, of greeting their guest with a handshake, clearly comfortable with meeting new people.

During a photo shoot, it takes very little prompting for the family to “squeeze” into the frame on a bench in the backyard. Later, while the photographer reloads his camera near the pool, Marc stands close by, watching. Soon, Rodney steps behind his son and casually puts his arms around the young teen. Carin and Erica have now stepped up to either side of their dad and—partly because of the chill—each wraps her arms around his. Around the time Tina joins the family, the photographer looks up and decides this five-person group hug will be the next shot.

Like many parents, Gilfry sometimes brings his work home, which for an opera singer, has its own unique twist. “There's always the danger of being influenced by the role that you play,” he explains. “I was doing Don Giovanni. Who is Don Juan? A pretty bad guy, [and] he has a tremendous sense of entitlement. I was at home, admittedly behaving a bit like Don Giovanni, and Erica turns to Tina and said, “I like him better when he's Billy Budd.'”

Last year, the Cal State Fullerton community caught Gilfry at the 2002 Vision & Visionaries celebration as he was honored with other distinguished alumni. That fall he was invited to serve on a task force to help raise funds in support of the new Performing Arts Center. And in February, he hosts Front & Center, An Evening With Natalie Cole.