Saturday, August 12, 2006
Tom Dolan just told me the news and I�m truly sorry I didn�t have the chance to pay my respects in person. Charlie was one of the first people I met at Marist. Just about 25 years ago I got off the 5th floor elevator at Leo Hall feeling pretty good about being away at school and Charlie was standing there with a lacrosse stick and an unlit Newport dangling from his mouth. He looked me up and down with his fierce blue eyes and said "are you sure you're old enough to be here?� After assuring him I was, he wanted to know my sport. I remember thinking that this guy was pretty intense and I better come up with a good answer. When lacrosse was not my answer, he shook his head and said "we're gonna have to work on that" and introduced himself. He and I became part of that 5th floor fraternity that spent a lot of time together over the next 4 years. I will always remember him as genuine guy that spoke his mind, had wicked sense of humor with a great laugh I can still hear, was as competitive as he was funny; always interested and curious about all types of people, and someone friends could always count on. I can�t imagine the pain you and your family are going through but hope that the positive energetic spirit I remember you to be helps get you and your kids through this time. My thoughts and prayers are with you, Charlie, your kids, and the rest of your extended family. Sincerely Gerry DeHaven
