It’s been hard to find the right words to express my feelings, but here goes. I met Chuck in 1994 through his Breakfast with the Beatles radio show on then oldies station U92. An awkward teenager of 16 who was crazy about the Beatles, I bucked up the courage to call in one Sunday and inquire about a 30th year anniversary 45 record that had been issued but couldn’t be found in stores. He told me to meet up with him at a car show at the Brandon Checkers he hosted on Tuesdays, and he’d take care of me. I did, and he just gave me the record...the rest is history. That was Chuck. My Beatle buddy. I still have that 45, framed and in its plastic.
Life and God have a strange way of connecting, disconnecting and reconnecting people for reasons we don’t always understand. Fast-forward to 2005/2006. I was in the planning stages of my wedding, and we somehow connected again through the wonders of the internet. He and Teresa came out to California, where I was living at the time, and he emcee’d our reception. I’m so glad they were there on one of the most important days of my life. And thank you for sending flowers and visiting (and for Teresa’s hard work cross-stitching the birth statistics) when our son Matthew was born. That meant a lot.
I’ll always remember the fun times with Chuck and Teresa – our dual (both belated) honeymoon cruise to the Caribbean, annual Horror Nights adventures and dinner get togethers. I miss those times so much but am thankful to have the memories to cherish. I never imagined the end of Chuck’s life would come this soon. I’ll miss his quick wit and wicked sense of humor. Most of all, I’ll just miss him.
To Teresa: My heart is broken and hurting for you. You are in my prayers and have my deepest sympathy. You’re an incredibly strong woman. To Chuck: Not going to say goodbye. I know I’ll see you again. Thanks for 26 years of friendship here on this earth. Love you always, your Beatle bud Kim.
As Chuck would always close out Breakfast with the Beatles: “It’s nice to be important, but it’s more important to be nice. Success is the best revenge. Fight for what you believe in, and don’t ever let them tell you no.“