about chuck
Our beginnings are seeds of our
becoming.
Most of us have understand that life experiences, especially our beginnings in youth, will govern our becoming as adults. Indeed the child is father of the man. As I reflect upon my becoming, I return to the beginnings of a young boy living is a small home where everything was relatively stable until circumstances altered that naive perception.
I have often reflected on the feeling of learning that my father had been laid off and that the only home I had ever really known would not be ours for long.
Words I had never heard like “repossession” and “default” as well as phrases like “contract for deed” became part of a dinner conversation that had become increasingly tense. Losing a home is difficult, losing friends is unsettling, but the threat of losing your family can be terrifying to a seven-year-old mind. Looking back at those days that seemed unbearable, now seem invaluable.
Athletics was my release in high school, and football my draw to SBU. I became the first in my parents families to graduate with a degree, eventually becoming a history teacher. It was then that I received the greatest earthly gift I would ever receive, my wife, Michelle- I’m sure at times she has looked for a return receipt for me. Together, we have grown in our love toward the Lord, one another, and our children. Together, we have worked to build our family. No life is without its challenges, as our life has been no different than many others. It has included the challenges of breast cancer and trips to Mayo with our son, but Michelle’s background in healthcare as well as her connections at CMH have helped us navigate these as “becoming” of a family.
After a few years in teaching and coaching, I was led to graduate school at University of Missouri, leading back to SBU and an opportunity to develop a new academic program and submit and receive DESE approval for implementation. Within a few years I went into administration, working with both SBU and St. John’s Mercy, giving me an insight into healthcare education.
The next few years were difficult; public housing and learning to live without a vehicle as a few examples. But as Providence had planned, these were the fires of refinement that produced the tempering of my childhood family.
This experience has given me understanding for those caught in difficulties, but with an enlightened view of the need for compassion resulting in resilience but never pity. The “love thy neighbor” lessons of friends in deed, who gave a hand up, not a hand out.
My father wanted me to “never be ashamed to get your hands dirty” but also encouraged me to use my mind as well.
After several years, I returned to teaching. My young sons who were in those formative adolescent years I thought I knew so much about, but soon learned that in many ways raising young men is not for the faint of heart--- I was “getting my hands dirty.” Our family was blessed by a daughter eleven years younger than her brothers that we call a miracle, but it also served as another lesson-- that just because I thought “it’s just like raising boys, just a little softer” did not make it true. In fact, it was vastly different, it came with its own unique blessings.
Today, Michelle and I feel that we are at a point where our children are independent and it has freed us to consider serving our community beyond our family, jobs, and church.
We feel we can contribute to our neighbors in shaping policy through principles that we have learned and endeavored to live. We hope we have an opportunity to serve our fellow citizens. We have been greatly blessed, and we will work to contribute and give back as we have been blessed.