It will be four weeks ago, tomorrow, that Charley passed out of the Old World and into his New World.
I miss you with each passing day, I long for you with each passing hour...
I hold your memory close, and in my sorrow you comfort me.
The Seasons of a Life
We’re here today to honor a good man…
A Teacher…
A Father…
A Friend…
Charley McIntyre’s true passion in life was teaching. He loved to share his knowledge and skills with others, and he was fascinated with Technique. He was attracted to Intellectuals and Artists alike, and he was compelled to learn their ways and absorb their knowledge. People like George Pocock, Ernie Burgess, and Jo Scaylea. Dad had special friendships with them, just as he had special friendships with each of you. And with his warmth and his charm, he would make you feel like he was really interested in what you did, and what you had to say.
Dad could talk for hours…whether it was about rowing styles, or ways to ride your skis, or about all of the interesting people he has known in his life. And Brother, let me tell you, he has known many people. He had a knack for meeting people and making friends. The first friend he made in Seattle was a young lady down at Lake Washington in the late summer of 1949. Dad was rowing up through the Montlake Cut of the Lake Washington Ship Canal when he noticed a light haired woman swimming just outside the path of his oars. He stopped rowing and waited until he could get her attention. She lifted her head out of the water and said hello, and that was the beginning of his friendship with Fran Hawkins. Fran became close friends with Charley’s family and his first wife, Ann Cummins.
Last year I was privileged to travel with my Dad to compete in the World Masters Rowing Championships in Croatia. We raced together in the double sculls as a father/son team. Dad pulled his heart out in that race, even though he knew his lungs were full of cancer, for it was something that he wanted to do for both of us.
I spent every day with him for a month on that trip as we wandered through Europe; listening to his interesting stories and commentary. He may have repeated his jokes a few times, but the stories were new every day. I would listen to him and smile, just relishing in the comfort of being with my father. That gift was truly special.
When I was a boy Dad would come watch my soccer games. Afterwards he would take me down to the Seattle Tennis Club and set me loose for the day. I would hunt down tennis balls while he slipped off for a long nap.
We’re here today to honor a good man…
A Teacher…
A Father…
A Friend…
Charley McIntyre’s true passion in life was teaching. He loved to share his knowledge and skills with others, and he was fascinated with Technique. He was attracted to Intellectuals and Artists alike, and he was compelled to learn their ways and absorb their knowledge. People like George Pocock, Ernie Burgess, and Jo Scaylea. Dad had special friendships with them, just as he had special friendships with each of you. And with his warmth and his charm, he would make you feel like he was really interested in what you did, and what you had to say.
Dad could talk for hours…whether it was about rowing styles, or ways to ride your skis, or about all of the interesting people he has known in his life. And Brother, let me tell you, he has known many people. He had a knack for meeting people and making friends. The first friend he made in Seattle was a young lady down at Lake Washington in the late summer of 1949. Dad was rowing up through the Montlake Cut of the Lake Washington Ship Canal when he noticed a light haired woman swimming just outside the path of his oars. He stopped rowing and waited until he could get her attention. She lifted her head out of the water and said hello, and that was the beginning of his friendship with Fran Hawkins. Fran became close friends with Charley’s family and his first wife, Ann Cummins.
Last year I was privileged to travel with my Dad to compete in the World Masters Rowing Championships in Croatia. We raced together in the double sculls as a father/son team. Dad pulled his heart out in that race, even though he knew his lungs were full of cancer, for it was something that he wanted to do for both of us.
I spent every day with him for a month on that trip as we wandered through Europe; listening to his interesting stories and commentary. He may have repeated his jokes a few times, but the stories were new every day. I would listen to him and smile, just relishing in the comfort of being with my father. That gift was truly special.
When I was a boy Dad would come watch my soccer games. Afterwards he would take me down to the Seattle Tennis Club and set me loose for the day. I would hunt down tennis balls while he slipped off for a long nap.
I remember sitting with my him as he watched the Flip Wilson Comedy Show in the locker room. Dad would laugh uproariously at some joke that I didn’t get; yet I would laugh along with him, because it felt so good to do so, and it made me feel closer to him. Throughout his life, his laugh always had that effect on me.
As we would walk out of the club, he would always step into the bar and grab some nuts and pretzels. Years later when the club was remodeled, they purposely moved the hallway away from the bar, so as to discourage Charley McIntyre from making off with all the nuts.
Like some character out of an old movie, Dad had a warm, familiar way about him.
He was a simple man, and he enjoyed the simple pleasure of living. Dad was a Hummer. He would often walk around humming a tune…hearing old big band music that he loved so much.
Now among all of his interests, Dad had one true passion in Life…One True Love…
…And That Was The Doughnut.
Yes, it’s true, he was obsessed with Rowing.
But the path to that Man’s Heart was through his tummy, and there was no love like Charley and The Doughnut.
Often times he could be found at The Madison Park Bakery, with doughnut in hand. Dad had a Phd. in doughnuts and a Masters degree in persuading others to buy them for him.
Eventually he was kicked out of the Bakery for instituting a Free Coffee Refill Program for “Seniors”, and for allegedly making a series of inappropriate remarks. Can you Believe That?
A funny story comes from a time when Dad went flying with his daughter Bridget, The Pilot. As they are waiting for the ok to takeoff from Boeing Field, Bridget revs the engine to full power, checking the propeller and the engine magnetos. It is so loud inside the small cabin, that you can barely hear the take off command from the tower through your headset. As Bridget looks over to Dad and gives him the thumbs up for takeoff, she notices his chin down on his chest…amid all the noise, he’s managed to fall asleep!
Dad could fall asleep almost anywhere. He would nod off at mass, in the waiting room at the doctors office, or his favorite spot-the old couch in the men's locker room at The Tennis Club. Rumor has it that he wore out more than a few couches over the years at the club.
Now As far as we know, he never once fell asleep while rowing.
But he did row in his sleep.
He loved rowing so much, he once told me that he would dream about rowing. Perhaps he would dream about a boat that he could both row and sleep in.
Dad rowed more miles on Lake Washington than anyone since the Native Indians plied the waters in their dugout cedar canoes. He knew the water like the back of his hand. It was there that he found true peace…It was there that he was at home.
Today we honor a man who had the ultimate life…
He rowed almost every day of his life, he was surrounded by his friends and students, who shared his love for the sport, and he was revered by his family.
He will be missed…yet remembered by all.
I like to think that he’s up in Heaven right now rowing on Endless Waters.
As we would walk out of the club, he would always step into the bar and grab some nuts and pretzels. Years later when the club was remodeled, they purposely moved the hallway away from the bar, so as to discourage Charley McIntyre from making off with all the nuts.
Like some character out of an old movie, Dad had a warm, familiar way about him.
He was a simple man, and he enjoyed the simple pleasure of living. Dad was a Hummer. He would often walk around humming a tune…hearing old big band music that he loved so much.
Now among all of his interests, Dad had one true passion in Life…One True Love…
…And That Was The Doughnut.
Yes, it’s true, he was obsessed with Rowing.
But the path to that Man’s Heart was through his tummy, and there was no love like Charley and The Doughnut.
Often times he could be found at The Madison Park Bakery, with doughnut in hand. Dad had a Phd. in doughnuts and a Masters degree in persuading others to buy them for him.
Eventually he was kicked out of the Bakery for instituting a Free Coffee Refill Program for “Seniors”, and for allegedly making a series of inappropriate remarks. Can you Believe That?
A funny story comes from a time when Dad went flying with his daughter Bridget, The Pilot. As they are waiting for the ok to takeoff from Boeing Field, Bridget revs the engine to full power, checking the propeller and the engine magnetos. It is so loud inside the small cabin, that you can barely hear the take off command from the tower through your headset. As Bridget looks over to Dad and gives him the thumbs up for takeoff, she notices his chin down on his chest…amid all the noise, he’s managed to fall asleep!
Dad could fall asleep almost anywhere. He would nod off at mass, in the waiting room at the doctors office, or his favorite spot-the old couch in the men's locker room at The Tennis Club. Rumor has it that he wore out more than a few couches over the years at the club.
Now As far as we know, he never once fell asleep while rowing.
But he did row in his sleep.
He loved rowing so much, he once told me that he would dream about rowing. Perhaps he would dream about a boat that he could both row and sleep in.
Dad rowed more miles on Lake Washington than anyone since the Native Indians plied the waters in their dugout cedar canoes. He knew the water like the back of his hand. It was there that he found true peace…It was there that he was at home.
Today we honor a man who had the ultimate life…
He rowed almost every day of his life, he was surrounded by his friends and students, who shared his love for the sport, and he was revered by his family.
He will be missed…yet remembered by all.
I like to think that he’s up in Heaven right now rowing on Endless Waters.
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