I started writing this in February but didn’t finish it
until now. I guess I needed a little
distance to get the right perspective.
***
In May 2004, I was at the end of my rope. I had a job
that I hated. It was a boiler room inside sales job, with abysmal pay.
The managers were heartless and, worse, humorless. I was trapped
and sinking fast.
2 and 1/2 years earlier the telecom industry had launched me, unceremoniously, after I devoted 20 years of my life to them. Finding any kind of decent replacement job was proving difficult. My confidence was shattered.
Somehow through my social network (actual living breathing people, not pictures on a computer screen), my name popped up at a construction supply house, M.A.W. They were looking for a Credit Manager. I had about as much business being a Credit Manager as I would being the President of the United States. My degree (1978 vintage) was electronics. My background was telecom. But I figured I had nothing to lose, and besides, I knew Excel (a little bit, anyway). I went to meet Chuck D.
Chuck shook my hand and seemed to be sizing me up. We talked a little bit. We discussed my previous employers, but only briefly. Chuck mentioned that he was "on the back nine" and that soon he would be handing control over to his sons, Darren and Derek.
At the end of the interview, Chuck said he'd have to talk to his business partners. He would get back to me.
10 days later, Chuck called me. The job was mine, if I wanted it. But could I start tomorrow? I could and I did.
7 years and 9 months later, I'm still at M.A.W.
I had a hell of a time at first, but eventually Chuck brought me around to his way. What I got more than anything from Chuck was this: your family is number 1; your friends are a close second.
2 and 1/2 years earlier the telecom industry had launched me, unceremoniously, after I devoted 20 years of my life to them. Finding any kind of decent replacement job was proving difficult. My confidence was shattered.
Somehow through my social network (actual living breathing people, not pictures on a computer screen), my name popped up at a construction supply house, M.A.W. They were looking for a Credit Manager. I had about as much business being a Credit Manager as I would being the President of the United States. My degree (1978 vintage) was electronics. My background was telecom. But I figured I had nothing to lose, and besides, I knew Excel (a little bit, anyway). I went to meet Chuck D.
Chuck shook my hand and seemed to be sizing me up. We talked a little bit. We discussed my previous employers, but only briefly. Chuck mentioned that he was "on the back nine" and that soon he would be handing control over to his sons, Darren and Derek.
At the end of the interview, Chuck said he'd have to talk to his business partners. He would get back to me.
10 days later, Chuck called me. The job was mine, if I wanted it. But could I start tomorrow? I could and I did.
7 years and 9 months later, I'm still at M.A.W.
I had a hell of a time at first, but eventually Chuck brought me around to his way. What I got more than anything from Chuck was this: your family is number 1; your friends are a close second.
If you gave him a good firm handshake, looked him straight
in the eye, and (more important than anything) gave him your word, Chuck would
always be there for you, to the bitter end.
Your word is your bond, Chuck used to say.
I have no doubt that if I had called Chuck in the wee hours of the morning he'd be there if I needed help. I know someone who did call him, just like that…. for bail money. Ever the loyal friend, Chuck showed up, with the cash.
It wasn't all roses. Business rarely is. The last 93 months, for me and M.A.W, have included successes and failures. But I'm still here. What Chuck got from me (I'd like to think, anyway) was a dedicated worker who was at his desk every day, and knew his way around computers, at least a little bit. Chuck had the business know how, I knew (or figured out) how to make some of his internal processes run smoother.
Once Chuck got to know me, he hired my sister in law. Then he let Derek hire my wife.
Oh well, nobody's perfect, I guess.
A few years ago, Chuck started to back off from the business. His boys took over. He started to travel. Stays in Florida became the norm. Then, sadly, his health began to decline. He fell and broke his hip. A stay in a rehab center followed. Not one to stay down for long, Chuck breezed through that and was back in the game.
Your word is your bond, Chuck used to say.
I have no doubt that if I had called Chuck in the wee hours of the morning he'd be there if I needed help. I know someone who did call him, just like that…. for bail money. Ever the loyal friend, Chuck showed up, with the cash.
It wasn't all roses. Business rarely is. The last 93 months, for me and M.A.W, have included successes and failures. But I'm still here. What Chuck got from me (I'd like to think, anyway) was a dedicated worker who was at his desk every day, and knew his way around computers, at least a little bit. Chuck had the business know how, I knew (or figured out) how to make some of his internal processes run smoother.
Once Chuck got to know me, he hired my sister in law. Then he let Derek hire my wife.
Oh well, nobody's perfect, I guess.
A few years ago, Chuck started to back off from the business. His boys took over. He started to travel. Stays in Florida became the norm. Then, sadly, his health began to decline. He fell and broke his hip. A stay in a rehab center followed. Not one to stay down for long, Chuck breezed through that and was back in the game.
Then he got deathly ill. Turned out he needed a liver
transplant.
Chuck was a tough guy, a multi-sport athlete in high school, also a boxer and a Marine. I didn't know him then, but it was obvious the guy could take a punch. And, he took a bucket full of them.
He recovered from the liver transplant and became great friends with the doctor who performed the operation. He went on living and enjoying life.
Sometime after that, I got bad news. I had cancer. My loyal friend Chuck called and offered his support, for me, my wife and kids. I got through my chemotherapy.
Chuck was a tough guy, a multi-sport athlete in high school, also a boxer and a Marine. I didn't know him then, but it was obvious the guy could take a punch. And, he took a bucket full of them.
He recovered from the liver transplant and became great friends with the doctor who performed the operation. He went on living and enjoying life.
Sometime after that, I got bad news. I had cancer. My loyal friend Chuck called and offered his support, for me, my wife and kids. I got through my chemotherapy.
After that, Chuck and I had many talks about life, and what
an adventure it was. But we also both agreed that we had no
complaints. We'd both stared into the abyss and been changed by it.
The fact that we'd both had significant health scares allowed us to bond in a
way we never would have otherwise. And that's the honest truth.
Chuck recovered from his transplant surgery and was back once again. He welcomed his first grandchild, a baby girl. He was enjoying his life. Unfortunately, after a short time, he got more bad news from the doctor. This time it was cancer. It had spread and was in his lungs.
Yet again, Chuck refused to throw in the towel. He fought with everything he had. When he was told he didn't have long, he faced his fate with dignity and composure. He never complained. But at the same time, he committed himself to fighting for every extra day he could get. He NEVER gave up.
Chuck had a heart attack and then slipped away, on a Saturday morning in February with his sons by his side. He was 71.
His boys put on what was without a doubt the best send off I've ever seen. Chuck's funeral was what every funeral should be: friends and relatives fondly remembering their late great friend. Chuck's friend since childhood gave one of the funniest eulogies I ever heard, here's a sample - "I met Chuck on Tuesday. On Wednesday, the police were at my house - "Were you with Chuck D. yesterday? A car was reported stolen....".
Another story was when Chuck's parents decided to send him off to military school. They took him to the train station and watched him get on the train. What they didn't see was that he walked through the train car and exited the other side before it ever left the station. Hooked up with them later that day, back at home. Military school didn't sound like a good idea to Chuck.
Chuck recovered from his transplant surgery and was back once again. He welcomed his first grandchild, a baby girl. He was enjoying his life. Unfortunately, after a short time, he got more bad news from the doctor. This time it was cancer. It had spread and was in his lungs.
Yet again, Chuck refused to throw in the towel. He fought with everything he had. When he was told he didn't have long, he faced his fate with dignity and composure. He never complained. But at the same time, he committed himself to fighting for every extra day he could get. He NEVER gave up.
Chuck had a heart attack and then slipped away, on a Saturday morning in February with his sons by his side. He was 71.
His boys put on what was without a doubt the best send off I've ever seen. Chuck's funeral was what every funeral should be: friends and relatives fondly remembering their late great friend. Chuck's friend since childhood gave one of the funniest eulogies I ever heard, here's a sample - "I met Chuck on Tuesday. On Wednesday, the police were at my house - "Were you with Chuck D. yesterday? A car was reported stolen....".
Another story was when Chuck's parents decided to send him off to military school. They took him to the train station and watched him get on the train. What they didn't see was that he walked through the train car and exited the other side before it ever left the station. Hooked up with them later that day, back at home. Military school didn't sound like a good idea to Chuck.
Then there was the time his father got him a job painting
fire hydrants (green). As Chuck went
about his duties, an annoying little dog kept harassing him. Pretty soon everything but that little dog’s
most private parts were that lovely shade of green. Chuck’s dad got a call and drove to the
scene. Chuck was fired. And had to walk home, too.
Chuck was one of those larger than life guys. At the luncheon after the services, old friends went on and on with stories about Chuck, each one funnier than the last. Chuck had dated Sara Lee in high school.... yeah, that Sara Lee. Was still friends with her 50+ years later. After he graduated from high school in '58 he went to Cuba with some friends. While they were in a casino there, Castro's gang came in and raised some hell. Chuck rented a bachelor pad with Bobby Douglass who played for the Chicago Bears in the late 60's and early '70s. Their adventures and misadventures together were legendary. One time their place was robbed, the Chicago flatfoot who investigated was Dennis Farina (Miami Vice, Get Shorty, Midnight Run, Law and Order, etc.).
From humble beginnings, Chuck went on to start a business, sell it and retire very young to spend time with his sons. Later he came out of retirement and started yet another business, which he built up for his boys and all the people who wound up working at their two locations.
I guess the most amazing thing to me about Chuck was that he had friends that he went to grade school with that he STILL hung around with, at the age of 71. Family and friends was what he was all about.
Quite a guy, he was. He did a lot for me and my family. And a lot of other people, too.
Thank you Chuck, my friend. I'll miss you.
Chuck was one of those larger than life guys. At the luncheon after the services, old friends went on and on with stories about Chuck, each one funnier than the last. Chuck had dated Sara Lee in high school.... yeah, that Sara Lee. Was still friends with her 50+ years later. After he graduated from high school in '58 he went to Cuba with some friends. While they were in a casino there, Castro's gang came in and raised some hell. Chuck rented a bachelor pad with Bobby Douglass who played for the Chicago Bears in the late 60's and early '70s. Their adventures and misadventures together were legendary. One time their place was robbed, the Chicago flatfoot who investigated was Dennis Farina (Miami Vice, Get Shorty, Midnight Run, Law and Order, etc.).
From humble beginnings, Chuck went on to start a business, sell it and retire very young to spend time with his sons. Later he came out of retirement and started yet another business, which he built up for his boys and all the people who wound up working at their two locations.
I guess the most amazing thing to me about Chuck was that he had friends that he went to grade school with that he STILL hung around with, at the age of 71. Family and friends was what he was all about.
Quite a guy, he was. He did a lot for me and my family. And a lot of other people, too.
Thank you Chuck, my friend. I'll miss you.
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