Steve what a wonderful tribute you gave to Charlotte. Bless you. My condolences
to her very good friends and family. I know she will be missed by all of you.
On Aug 9, 2019, at 1:47 PM, Steve <pipeguy920@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Well, those of us who knew her knew this was going to happen. I should have
written something in advance, but I guess I don't like to think of those
eventualities.
I, as many on this list have, known Charlotte for well over fifty years. She
was a friend to many, and a love to others.
She was so talented; empathetic, an unbelievable musician and pianist who
shared her talents with several churches; a dreamer -- she wanted to be an
actress; and an eccentric -- some of you know that she lived with over eighty
uncaged birds (a few parrots, cockatiels, and parakeets.) As a matter of fact,
circa 1980, WJIM channel 6 ran a report on how her townhouse was trying to
evict her because she had (I think then, eight birds; while the limit of pets
you could have was two). Someday, Mark will probably dig out that news report.
Charlotte had three siblings -- a younger sister, Kathleen;a brother Jim
(deceased in an auto accident in Lansing thirty-five years ago); and a brother
John, who also survived her. As a matter of fact, I just talked to her last
week, she was so excited that she was able to see John for the first time in
thirty-eight years! (I think she was holding on for that moment).
Charlotte was my first wife, and first intimate relationship. Prior to that,
she was married to the late Randy Formenti for a short period of time, also.
When we were married, she had given away all her birds to move to Spokane.
But, after a month or so, she really started missing her birds. She would
often go over to her little stereo that I bought her and play recordings of
them. I couldn't tolerate birds flying around freely, that was only one of a
few issues. So, we separated very amicably.
She moved to a couple different apartments in Spokane and had a small number of
birds. Then, she found a rental in Ritzville, Washington, a forlorn town about
sixty miles from Spokane. She got a little house in 1986, and the landlord
never raised her rent during the remaining thirty-three years; it was around
$150 per month.
She amassed over eighty birds there at one time. A few years ago, as her lung
condition worsened, no doubt from breathing in all the dust, bird droppings,
and dander; she had her friend Bill collect them in netting and I think they
just freed most of them. I did see her twenty-three years ago, but we met at
a restaurant and my hotel -- not at her house.
Deep down, I recall thinking the last time she called to wish me a Happy
Birthday, that that could be the last time. The last few times we talked, she
said she was ready to go. Bill called Mark and said she died in the hospital
around 8:40 A.M. on Wednesday August 7.
I hope by now, the three people on this list she wanted to know about it in
advance have been told.
Charlotte was a real soul seeker; very spiritual and a deep Christian. May God
rest her soul.
All this time I've loved you
And never known your face
All this time I've missed you
And searched this human race
Here is true peace
Here my heart knows calm
Safe in your soul
Bathed in your sighs
Steve
Class of '72
