Charles A. Thomas, MD (Charlie, Chuck,
Potato) died of a heart attack
at about
2:05pm on Thursday May 10, 2007.
Wake was held Monday and Tuesday at:
Maloney Funeral Home
1359 W. Devon Ave.
Chicago, IL
(773) 764-1617
Funeral was held Wednesday 10am at:
Rosehill Cemetary
5800
N. Ravenswood Ave.
Chicago, IL
Obituary in Chicago Tribune
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-0705130179may13,1,1064403.story?coll=chi-newslocal-hed
Guest book link:
http://www.legacy.com/ChicagoTribune/GB/GuestbookView.aspx?PersonId=88042824
Please encourage people to
send comments and stories about Chuck to me at marc@jandftech.com, and I will post them
below.
Note: I will not post your
email address or phone number unless you specifically request it. If you would like to contact someone who has
contributed something
to this web site, please let me know via email and I
will forward their email address to you.
Also, if you would like me to remove a phone number or email address
from a posting, please let me know.
The following emails are posted in the order in which I received them:
****
Jack Manning wrote:
I just heard that Chuck Thomas died. All I heard was that he got sick, went into the hospital and died there.
This may have occurred today. I got a call from Noralene Reese, who had heard the news from Chip a bit ago.
****
David Van Vliet wrote:
Roni just called and said Chuck passed due to an embolism. It may be related to a hip replacement. Such sad news.
Pelt
****
I have never been more stunned to read an e-mail in my entire life.
John Reidy
Beta ‘76
****
We were at a small gathering/ fundraiser in Boston for JC when Gary Traynor called Murph. What a shocker!
Potato had such a wonderful way about him that always made you feel like you were the most important person.
We will all miss him so.
Curt Oberg
****
Panama Red will always live.
Thanks.
Sam
Samuel R. Coffey
****
From Jack Manning:
Here's a report from Tony Cort. Tony will let us know when the funeral arrangements have been made.
Dear Friends,
Chuck Thomas passed away Thursday at 4:09 pm. yesterday. I will tell you what I know. I got a phone call from
Chuck's wife Terri just before 4 yesterday that Chuck had suffered a major heart attack, that they were working
on him frantically, but she didn't feel he was going to make it. By the time I got to the hospital 20 minutes later,
he had passed. This much I know. He was working the ER when he told a fellow doctor and partner that he wasn't
feeling good, had chest pain, and whatever was happening wasn't good. They got him to a chair where he tried to
describe in med jargon what was happening to him, and he quit talking. By the time they got him on a gurney and
to the cardio cath lab, the damage had been done. What was found was that an aneurysm in the upper left ventricle
had formed and though it did not break it had thrown a clot that completely blocked any blood flow to that part of
the heart. They tried everything they could to unplug the blockage but all efforts were futile, as the damage was done
in the first few minutes. If he experienced any pain it was short and quick. I will try to get the doctor to provide a
more detailed explanation in laymen's terms and forward to all.
I remained at the hospital with Terri, her sister and friend until 11:30 when the coroner's office came to get the body.
Since this happened at work, there needed to be a complete police investigation at the hospital until the body could
be removed. The coroner will decide today if an autopsy needs to be performed. Hopefully this will not happen,
nor should it as Terri wants to get his body to the funeral home asap. Terri is doing as well as she can,
but is completely heartbroken and devastated. There were a few laughs amongst the tears, but we all know how difficult
this is going to be. She appreciates all the support, thoughts, and prayers that are coming from all of you.
We all know Chuck Thomas and the man he was and what he stood for. Judging by the reactions of all the
hospital staff, nurses, techs, docs, security etc, that came in to pay their respects during the course of the evening,
he was all that and more.
As I know more about the arrangements, I will pass them along asap. I will be talking with and seeing Terri today so
I should know more by this evening. I am sorry that I couldn't pass this sad sad new to all of you personally. I know
how much of a shock this is and not knowing what really happened is all the more frustrating. Please, anyone that
wants to call me about anything feel free to do so any time of the day or night. My cell is 312 608 8203.
I am so sorry to have to be writing this. We have all lost a great friend. The world has lost a great person.
Tony
****
Dear Jack,
Thanks once again for helping a whole community stay informed. This is truly a sad thing. I think the website/blog that Marc
set-up after Hergie’s death helped a lot of us remember Hergie and deal with the situation. Maybe Marc or someone else can do
something similar for Chuck? Also, along those lines, in these situations, I would love it if someone could come up with a unique
“Dartmouth” way of capturing our collective “thoughts and prayers” other than sending flowers or donating to a charity in his
name.
Joe Davis
****
This news really hurts. The suddenness and finality of Chuck's passing
are difficult to accept. It's hard to believe Potato won't be there at
any Dartmouth related events in the future. His wicked wit, his knack
for storytelling and his diabolical perspective on political correctness always made it worthwhile to hang around
the keg long past any reasonable time. We all will miss our friend.
Keep Terri in our prayers.
Duner
****
I will always remember the Potato Hilton on Maple Street in Hanover. Potato and Herbie and 10 of us crashed on the floor –
Potato making us laugh so hard it hurt.
The sign on the door said: "You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave."
You will never leave us Potato.
Wayne
****
Wow, what a sad email to have received. Potato made me feel like a local when I moved to Chicago and knew no one.
Between Potato and Tony Cort I had the best friends right out of the gate after Dartmouth that anyone could ever want.
Every time we were together the stories and the laughs were tremendous.
Klibes
Beta '85
****
Just heard the tragic news that Chuck passed away. I have no details at this time.
Bruce Ling
****
Sully, I didn't see you on the distribution list. This is unbelievable. I
will send you anything else that I see.
JWright
****
Gents:
I just received this note from JWright. So hard to believe....
I will keep you posted as I receive additional stuff from him.
Best.
Sully
****
Here's what I know right now. Wake mon/tues 12-9 for sure and I'm guessing wed funeral if Terri so desires.
Maloney Funeral Home
1359 W. Devon Ave.
Chicago, Ill
I'm trying to see if I can get a good rate at a Marriott very close to O'Hare for those interested. I will also check on a few others.
If anyone thinks they might come or are for sure could you please let me know asap.
If anyone wants to call, please do.
TC
312 608 8203
****
I'm planning on it. Thinking I'd do red-eye Monday evening.
Thanks.
Sam
Samuel R. Coffey
****
I was so very sorry to hear about Chuck's passing. His family is in my prayers.
David Hetzel
****
wow ;I'm dumbfounded. my prayers will be with the family.
please keep us updated.
Tyrone Byrd
****
FYI, guys, the stuff about the arrangements, etc., will be going up on www.dartmouthbeta.org....... so keep us posted, please......
As is everyone else, I'm just speechless and devastated.....
kai
Jack Burnett 71
****
From Jack Manning:
From the BigGreenAlert (a semi-subscription service) on Dartmouth football:
Also lost this week was Dr. Charles "Potato" Thomas '73, who died on Thursday of an aneurysm. Chuck was a
running back on three Ivy championship teams (1970, 1971, and 1972), and his 78-yard touchdown run against
Holy Cross in 1972 is among the longest in Dartmouth football history. His teammates voted him
the Manners Makyth Man Award, given to the Dartmouth football player who has best conducted himself to the
advantage of the College. After working in Admissions at Dartmouth, Chuck went to Dartmouth Medical School
and spent his career as an emergency room doctor in Chicago.
Wayne Young '72, color commentator for Dartmouth football broadcasts shares this about his former teammate:
"Everyone loved the Potato. He was a terrific football player, an even better person, and one of the funniest guys ever.
When Chuck was in medical school, his home on Maple Street - the Potato Hilton - was where everyone gathered on
football weekends. It is so typical of Chuck that he devoted his life to saving lives in the emergency room. There are
a lot of broken hearts today in the Dartmouth football family."
****
Also from Jack:
The below para. is from my step-sister, Janet Murphy, who was a '76 and in Hanover during Chuck's years. By the way,
our family loved Chuck Thomas. He stayed with us in Bozeman a few times, including the summer before my senior and
his junior year. On that trip, he pulled his hamstring running on the track at Montana State (on a day when I didn't want to
work out and didn't go with him). But for that muscle pull, no one would have heard of Rickie Klupchak for another year.
"Jack, what awful news. A world with no Chuck in it? It hardly seems
possible. There was no one else like him -- he was just such a great
guy. I am so sorry. It is great that people are able to be there for
his wife Terri right now.
Janet"
****
Sully,
Thank you. I am at a loss for words.
George
George H. Kidder, Jr.
****
It was VERY much appreciated, Sully. I am numb.
What an unbelievable tragedy. A loss for everyone that knew Chuck.
Mark Harty
****
Wow - makes our day to day tribulations seem so meaningless—I am well—good to hear from you—I will be
in Hanover next weekend—will attend my first AQ Bd. Meeting in years! Will be praying for Chuck and his
family-what a great guy!----Billy
Bill Pollock
****
Thanks a lot, Marc
What a great guy and what terrible news.
Dan
Dan Holland
****
Thanks for doing this, Marc. And Tony, thanks for always being there for Chuck, and not just at the end.
This lightning bolt started making its devastating way through the Dart Beta nation yesterday afternoon almost
as soon as the dastardly deed happened. Not just on Jack Manning's email string, but also on the general
Dart Beta loop, the Dart Beta trustees' loop, the Dart Beta 71s loop, and no doubt many more. This news
is up on www.dartmouthbeta.org, and I urge brothers who haven't registered yet to please go there and do it.
I spent much of last night and today thinking about many of those who are reading this and how much I love them.
At least that is one thing good that has come out of this.
I think that Potato would want us to be laughing about something, but it's tough. Real tough. But somehow I think
that he and Herbie will be up to something sooner rather than later.
My brother Rand Burnett 72 joins me in posting this. Our thoughts and prayers are with Terri and all of you.
Keep the faith, and -- kai --
Jack Burnett 71
****
Marc
Thanks for the info. Another bit of sad news.
David Bailey
****
Marc, thanks for this. I am stunned and so sad. It doesn't seem possible.
Doug DeVries
****
Marc,
All of the info for wake and funeral will be in his obit in the chicago trib website starting sun. There will be a service on wed at 10am
at the rosehill cemetary. 5800 n ravenswood ave chicago. As for places to stay I suggest guys talk to their group of bud's that are
coming and determine a location. Downtown is great, Evanston is closer, O’Hare is close but might be difficult getting in on wed
morning. Also there will be a gathering after the service tbd so those who want to hang should schedule accordingly.
Sorry I can't be of more help setting up a dartmouth central hotel, but we will have a place to gather after the wake mon and tues.
If I can be of any more help please let me know.
Tony
****
From Tony: The following is from Chuck’s partner and friend, Dr. Seth Guterman, who was working with Chuck the day he died
Per your request:
Dr Chuck Thomas was doing what he loved most on May 10th 2007: providing medical care in the emergency department, relieving
pain and suffering as well as providing medicine to cure common and uncommon diseases, to people most in need: Chicago’s
underserved inner city community and people.
On this particular morning all day in the emergency department, he was in his typical good spirits, happy and jovial with ED staff
and patients. At 2:05 pm Dr Chuck Thomas had sudden onset of severe, crushing chest pain due to an acute onset of a massive
heart attack (the big one-no blood flowing to any significant parts of the heart muscle that pumps blood to rest of the body).
Despite being in the emergency department and getting the latest and most advanced medical care, Dr Thomas died within
5 minutes of the onset of the massive heart attack. Advance medical care was continued for over 2 hours, but the ED medical
staff and a group of cardiologists were not able to get his heart to start beating again.
The massive heart attack stopped all the heart muscles from working and the heart stopped beating within 5 minutes of the onset of
symptoms. Although not common in healthy people such as Dr Thomas, as in all medical problems, atypical disease can occur
even in any healthy person at any age at any time.
Dr Thomas did not suffer in pain and was with many people who admired, respected and loved him in the last short few minutes
of his life after a distinguished and honorable medical career. Dr Thomas was one of the finest and most experienced emergency
medicine physicians that ever walked this earth and provided medical care to patients most in need during a life time cut short by
unpredictable and uncommon events. The city of Chicago lost a great and irreplaceable physician on May 10th 2007 at 2:05 pm.
Seth Guterman MD FACEP
President, ECPS
(o) 773-255-1236
****
The Rascal responsible for corralling many of us youngsters to the bowels of Beta
The common denominator for fun and catalyst for action
Capturing us with relentless loyalty and never letting go
It’s been a sad day out western way since learning the news
Will miss you Charlie Potato
Blofly
Brad Fletcher
Beta 76
****
I just got this news and it reminds us all how fragile life is. I saw Chuck at the Army-Dartmouth Rugby game when
the Dartmouth Rugby field was dedicated. That was about a year and half ago. He was the picture of good health
except for arthritis in a few joints that we probably all feel. I am sorry but I had to pick up Tara (Marc, that is my
youngest daughter) at Gettysburg yesterday and I just saw this news on Saturday night at 10:30 pm. Chuck was one
of a kind and I doubt anyone was more well liked on the football team.
Chuck would have gotten a kick out of me staying up until 2:30 am this past Thursday as I watched (and rooted for
Chip Reese) who won the recent world championship of poker tournament in Las Vegas. Well maybe they are right
when they say only the good die young. Chuck was one of the best. Kevin
Kevin O’Shea
****
Sully,
Thanks for contacting me about Charlie. I am absolutely stunned. He and Chip roomed right next to me in Hinman Hall
during our freshman year. As I write this, I'm at a loss for words other than to say that Beta, Dartmouth and the world
have lost a truly wonderful person.
Dale (Daler) Pope ' 73
****
Marc,
Thanks for putting this site together. I am really planning on being in Chicago on Tuesday if I can move a couple of things around.
I still live in my hometown of Edgerton, Wisconsin, which is only about 2 hours north of Chicago. I still can't get over this.
My heart has been aching all day.
Dale
****
Received word from George Bayrd this morning, and was, quite frankly, stunned.
Although hardly close with Chuck, thought he was one of the most gracious and
affable guys in our class and an incomparable athlete. Knew him through some
of the other Beta boys like Louie Sullivan and Bob Smith, as well as George.
A deep, deep loss.
Larry Roberts
****
LIKE EVERYONE, I'M STRUGGLING BELIEVING CHUCK IS GONE. I'VE ALWAYS TAKEN
COMFORT IN THE THOUGHT I'D SEE POTATO EVERY SO OFTEN FOR VARIOUS OCCASIONS
FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE. I CAN ONLY TAKE COMFORT IN THAT THIS IS GOD'S
PLAN. I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND IT NOW.
I'VE KNOWN CHUCK THROUGH MY BROTHER JACK SINCE I WAS 13 YEARS OLD WHEN I
WATCHED THE DARTMOUTH FOOTBALL TEAM RULE THE IVY LEAGUE. LIKE CURT OBERG
SAID, HE REALLY TOOK A GENUINE INTEREST IN ALL HE MET. WHEN I WAS ABOUT 15
YEARS OLD, CHUCK PERSUADED ME TO DO HIS OFFSEASON FOOTBALL WEIGHT LIFTING
WORKOUT WITH HIM. BEING ANXIOUS TO IMPRESS, I PUT FORTH ALL I COULD. HE
REALLY TOOK DELIGHT THE NEXT DAY WHEN I LITERALLY COULDN'T HARDLY MOVE ANY
MUSCLE IN MY BODY. CHUCK REMINDED ME OF THIS STORY WHEN I SAW HIM LAST FALL
AT A DARTMOUTH FOOTBALL GAME.
I NOTIFIED MY SON JOHN, CLASS OF '08 AND A CURRENT DARTMOUTH FOOTBALL
PLAYER, OF CHUCK'S UNEXPECTED PASSING. HE AND A FEW OF HIS TEAMMATES KNEW
CHUCK AS CHUCK AND TERRI WERE IN HANOVER AT ONE OF THEIR GAMES JUST LAST
FALL. THEY WERE SHOCKED AND SADDENED. POTATO'S GOOD NATURE TRANSCENDED TO
CURRENT DARTMOUTH STUDENTS, 35 DARTMOUTH CLASSES LATER.
JIM MANNING '79
****
Sully,
Chuck was arguably the best athlete in our class, but he was a better human being. Everybody loved him. He will be dearly missed.
So sad.
George Bayrd '73
****
Marc - Thanks for the opportunity. This thing is spreading like
wildfire. I called Walt Sustek in South Carolina a few minutes
ago to let him know as well, and Jim Sullivan and I have already
exchanged emails. Embrace our friends while we're here.
Larry R.
****
I'm unable to go unfortunately, but I'd like to send sympathy and support.. Any word on where to send condolences?
Thanks.
David Hetzel
****
Tony and Jack,
I am afraid I cannot rework my plans to participate in honoring
Chuck in Chicago these next few days. Please relay my sincerest
sympathies to Terri. It goes without saying that Chuck was special,
managing to bring a smile to anyone who was with him and always
projecting his sincere interest in you very personally.
We already miss him deeply.
Dico
****
Jack (and everyone else!!!):
This was devastating !! From the comments I have read of those close to
Chuck-- and quite frankly- if you knew Chuck and he knew you -- you were
close to him -- he was that special and genuine a human being!
T-Byrd called me, and for days I refused to look at any e-mail---- I
just did not want to read or accept that such a wonderful individual
would so suddenly leave us!
I feel a strong sense of conveying that as African - Americans who
interacted with Chuck, we all knew that race was never even a hint of an
issue-- he was such a beautifully real / genuine human being, that his
special sincerity and gentle air of inner kindness flowed to the
surface!! Even on the football field, I recall in practice hitting him,
and in-kind him rushing at me to deliver an equally hard blow-- and
then-- us helping each other up!! He was like that in life-- he always
was willing to help his fellowman / woman!
I looked for him at the Ivy League football dinner in hopes of seeing
that calm air of genuineness-- it would have been 33 years since I last
saw Chuck - and I know - his special talents both on and off the
football field had only magnified ! I missed him then -- and I know we
all will miss him in our current lifetimes!
I know God blesses his soul!
My prayers go out to his family!
Wes..
****
Hi Tony,
With Sherri in Europe on business and my parents arriving from FLA tomorrow I cannot make it to Chicago.
Please let all who attend know that my heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with all of you, especially Terri and family on this
sad day. I will always smile when thinking of Chuck and I am sure that memory will linger with all of us who knew him.
My best to all of you!
Curt
****
Tony and the Dartmouth Family,
Hello. I will not be able to make the going home celebration for Chuck as I
had hoped. Please know that I will be participating in a spiritual sense,
and my prayers will be with Terri, her family and the Dartmouth family.
In deep sympathy,
T Byrd
****
Why was Chuck the Potato? I’ve always wondered that myself. Probably Chip Reese is most likely to know.
Chuck’s passing is unbelievably hard to accept. Hergie was ill for a long time. Indeed he lived so much longer than anyone
expected, and he tried very hard to “close the loop” with all his friends while he was still able to do so. And many of us had the
opportunity to actually say goodbye to him, which while incredibly hard was somehow a bit of closure that did not accompany
Chuck’s untimely and unexpected death. I didn’t keep up with Chuck over the years nearly as well as I wish that I had. But I feel
the same way as many of those who have already emailed and who, like me, did not see him much since college. He was still
somehow present in our lives. Memories about times with Chuck were all good. That’s a nice legacy for him to leave with us.
Best,
Joel
*****
Thank you for posting a website about Chuck's passing. Those of us who knew Chuck from way, way back--he and I started
kindergarten in 1955 and graduated high school in 1969 together--have been given the link to your site. I had only seen him twice in
the past thirty-eight years. It was gratifying to see how little his character had changed. He was, as everyone described him, a
wonderful human being with immense integrity and great humor. What a loss.
Rebecca del Rio (Becky Walters, CHS, Class of '69)
****
We all have so many memories of great Potato moments. One of mine is when Chuck showed up at my house in suburban Chicago
for a party with a truly priceless gift. He gave me the #23 Dartmouth jersey with the Indian head on the shoulders. In typical
Chuck Thomas fashion, he gave one of his most valued possessions to someone else.
God bless Chuck Thomas.
Van Pelt
PS Shoun Kerbaugh's current email address is shoun.kerbaugh@converteam.com. He wanted everyone to have it.
****
Tony,
You've proven to be a tower of strength during this trying time. Thanks for all you've done to keep us posted.
I'm ashamed to say that I can't make it out to Chicago for the wake and the funeral due to work. Please send my deepest
condolences to Terri and all of Chuck's family and my warmest regards to all our friends who made the journey to pay their
respects to a wonderful human being. Potato was a great guy - everyone who knew him knew him as a true friend. It's a
great loss for all of us who knew him.
Mich
****
It's always so difficult to lose one of those people who was always there
to make us all feel better - no matter what the situation was. Chuck
Thomas was without a doubt the most positive, caring, sincere person I have
ever met. He was never without a smile or a good thing to say to someone.
He was the epitomy of a gentleman, always giving of himself to make those
around him better. And when I read the note from one of the Doctor's that
was with him on the day he died, it showed yet again that the Chuck Thomas
we all knew and loved at Dartmouth so long ago, is still the Chuck Thomas
that worked at a hospital in Chicago - still making people feel better
every day.
Dartmouth, Beta, Chicago, Terri, and all who loved him, have truly lost a
wonderful person. If we all only had a little while more, to linger.
Shoun
****
I hadn't talked to Chuck in 30 years probably and about three months ago he left a voicemail on my home phone.
I called him back about five times but was never able to reach him.
After all these years I thought he was calling to say hello. Guess he was calling to say goodbye.
How I wish I saved his farewell message on my answering machine.
I am with you all in spirit today and tomorrow.
Regards,
Bruce Ling
****
Spring term 1971, Chuck, myself, George Riley 73’ and another guy Jim something (who’s name escapes me) from the class of 73’
are living in an apartment in Oakland CA and teaching at Oakland H.S. as participants in the Tucker Foundation program. Ron and
Don Smith 74’, Danny Coleman 74’ and some other guy’s were over in Richmond, CA teaching in the Richmond program, so we
had a good mix of guy’s who were participating in the program that semester.
I was a sophomore who only knew Chuck as upperclassman on the varsity team. Never really had any interaction with him and
didn’t really know him at all. In 1971 at Dartmouth College most of my campus life was confined to social and academic interaction
with people who looked like me. So if you didn’t look like me, didn’t live on my dorm floor or played on the freshman team with
me I probably didn’t make the effort to get to know you. That was just the reality of the times.
Being in Oakland that semester was great, California sun, being in a city and lots of Honey’s. What we didn’t have was money, so
in order to cover the basics (eat, wash clothes, keep the apartment clean) we decide that working together and pooling our
resources was the best way to go. George had a car, I could cook, Jim was never there (he had a girlfriend in Oakland) and Chuck
filled in everywhere else. He was the one who made sure we were always on point with our responsibilities to the program, the
apartment or each other. Of course when you’re the Task Master people don’t always want to hear what you have to say and two
black guy’s having to hear it from a white guy can have it’s moments.
Chuck, had a pocket knife that one day got missing. Of course Chuck being the straight ahead guy he was asked George and I if we
had seen his knife, neither of us had. Two days later he confronts George about the knife again, this time George goes off on
Chuck, accusing him of being racist for only suspecting the black guy’s of stealing, the whole 9 yards. Chuck doesn’t back down,
saying that this has nothing to do with race, he only wants his knife. That night was tense at the apartment.
The next day Danny Coleman who is from Oakland comes by the apartment with a gallon of cheap red wine. So we all partake in
the spirits, down that gallon of wine go to the store, get another gallon and proceed to drink that one as well. About halfway
through the second gallon we start to talk about our families, where we’re from, sports and all kinds of stuff. The more we shared
the more we realized that we were more alike than different, that there was a lot of common ground between us. All of a sudden
George gets up goes to his car and returns with Chuck’s knife. He said he found it in his car (Chuck had used the car to go
shopping) and that he was so mad a Chuck for accusing us of stealing (which he never did) that he was going to just throw it away
but he realized that returning the knife was a step towards building a bridge.
I share with you this story because it was Chuck, Chuck’s knife and cheap red wine that helped me to become more open and
tolerant of people and things that weren’t familiar to me. After that night of wine drinking the three of us (Chuck, George and
myself) spent the rest of our time in Oakland hanging out and getting to know each other and the way we see and understand the
world. Chuck and I went on to become great teammates and good friends. I caught up with Chuck years later and he told me he
was an ER Doc at Cook County Hospital in Chicago and I’m saying to myself “Cook County”? but I realized that he was where he
was supposed to be, in a place where he could make a difference.
I miss him, I love him and he made a difference in my life.
Morris “Rocky” Whitaker
****
Dear Friends,
I'm embarrased to say that I haven't thought about Chuck in many years. Since hearing the sad news, I've thought of nothing else.
To me Chuck symbolized all that is great about Dartmouth and Beta. He was a great friend to us all and will be profoundly missed.
My love to his family and my very best to all of you.
Sadly,
Scott Bundy - Gonzo
Dartmouth Beta '76
****
I guess I can finally make it known that it was I who made Chuck into the athlete he went-on to be in high school and college.
It was plainly obvious that I was the one who gave him a run-for-his-money as starting quarterback on the Centerville Wee Elks
back in 6th and 7th grade. Okay....maybe that's a slight overstatement. All right.....maybe that's a desperately gross
misrepresentation of the facts. But for a few shining moments, I was back-up to Chuck at QB and even at that young age,
he was an encourager and a leader.
High school is long-ago and very far away for me, but I vividly recall that Chuck never let his popularity or his obvious talents get in
the way of being a sincerely genuine, nice guy.
Michael Dustman
CHS '69
****
Yes, we spent just a mere 4 years together, a couple of kids from Ohio away at school almost a 1000 miles away in Upstate
New Hampshire in New England....members of the Dartmouth football team, practicing & playing together on those fields
in rain, snow, cold, dark-of-night under practice spot-lights or in sweltering heat! You know, I liked Chuck. For a Fair-haired
Saxon-Norwegian, he was a "kool" dude and always had a pleasant demeanor about him: He would give some hellish blows and
take some from me in return, too, ...and then still get up smiling like no harm done, stretch out his hand while cradling his
tucked-away football and scamper back to the huddle!....We endured Long Coach (Vermont Bus Line) bus rides and strange
hotels and college visiting team dorms up and down the rolling hills of the East Coast, from New Jersey to Maine; him being White
and me, Black, made no difference back then...At the end of the day, we were both pursuing our college education goal of
graduating ON TIME! from one of the Number One Colleges in America....and both going on to even more post-graduate training
in Professional Schools; as for me it was Business and for him, Medicine.
Yep we had fresh Goals & Ambition back then in Hanover, New Hampshire....enjoying being there instead of over in the killing
fields of Viet Nam in the real War Game of Life & Death [It was years later that I came to fully realize what that one "mountain of
man" teammate of ours (he was a few years older than us and I think he was a defensive tackle, and he himself is now deceased,
too,...but his name escapes me now) who was a Viet Nam veteran, use to barrel out of Davis Hall on to the torturous practice fields
and yell with a huge smile on his face, soiled with sweat, dirt and bruises, "Alright!....Its a Great Day to be alive!"]
On this day, we're both 56...but I still remember the times we shared back when we were ..just a couple of 18yrs olds....but
unfortunately Death suddenly caught him, anyway, before us...Hmph!....Hard Hitting, hard charging Chuck was still attacking and
barreling through the scrimmage line that exists in an ER everyday.....surely squared up and taking on the blows to his chest full
throttle! After all, that's how we had learned to play The Game in Ohio and at Dartmouth College...back-in-the-day.
Yes, we will all cross that Final Goal Line on the Field of Life....its just that the script for our individual Destiny hasn't finished
being written yet, as it has for Chuck, Dr. Charles A. Thomas.
My sincere condolences to his family,
Vence Lewis, Jr '73
****
Rocky( and All),
Hello. I just read your( Rocky's) note about Chuck on the website. Wow! What
a real and deep story about the Dartmouth family, human mankind and life in
America growing together black and white.
I encourage everyone to read it, if she / he hasn't.
Well said.
Peace,
T Byrd
****
Marc,
When I heard the news everything went silent in my life. I couldn't believe it.
I was a mess for two days. A real bear actually and unfit to be with during
that period.. Perhaps I was confronting my own mortality and I'm nine years
older. Chuck was one of those special people who make life worth it and
friendship the real glue that binds all human contact. I remember Chuck as a
free spirited full of gusto young man who filled everyroom he ever entered. His
smile was electric and his warmth was evident to everyone.
The halls of Beta were unique in those early '70's and I was blessed to be part
of so many wonderful experiences with so many terrific sons of Dartmouth. Chuck
will always be right at the top of the list for me. I cannot measure his loss.
I only know it was beyond any explanation. I contacted Sully right away and it
was good to reach out to someone. I saw Jeff Sassarossi yesterday and we just
shook our heads and couldn't really talk much about it. The disbelief was too palpable.
I had the pleasure of seeing Chuck a number of times on his trips back to
Hanover but I will always treasure the last one at a Football weekend in Hanover
last fall. How fitting. We greeted or more accurately, he greeted me for he
was always first, that big smile, that look that made you feel special and let
you know he was focused completely on you, that firm, full handshake, that
welcoming way that was his. I know whenever I go into the Alumni tent at a home
game in the future the first thing I will remember will be seeing Chuck standing
there holding forth with great joy and love for Dartmouth. I am grateful he
came to Hanover last fall. It's the memory of Chuck I will cherish for the rest
of my life.
Dartmouth and Beta have lost one of the best.
Miss all you guys. Make sure you stay in touch with all those buddies you
shared so much with as undergrads. I have been doing it with all the '64's and
it is priceless.
God Speed,
Bob Bartles '64
****
First of all, thanks for this site and thanks to Chuck’s many friends for writing.
Although not real close to Chuck, I always looked up to him (literally and figuratively) as a great athlete (we were on the same
9th grade basketball team, though he was first string and I was 21st) and as our H.S. class president. I last spoke with him at
our 35th reunion, Summer '04. As many of you have said, he had not changed much over the years, still the same great guy!
As a physician, I'm sure he had many appointments. On May 10th he had his appointment with God (Hebrews 9:27a). One day
we will all have an appointment like this. I hope and pray that you will all be prepared for what happens after you die. If you
would like to know how to be prepared, please visit this web site:
http://www.markcahill.org
or contact me directly 24/7
God Bless you all,
Keith Wyckoff, CHS '69
2889 Deep Cove Dr. NW
Concord, NC 28027
704-941-5471
****
The Brothers of Sigma Nu salute Chuck’s memory.
Let’s face it, we all wanted to be like him.
Nears
****
I am Chuck Thomas’ brother-in-law. I want to thank Chuck’s friends for all of their support the last few days. It really means
a lot to us.
Chuck was my brother for 37 years. We would see him a couple times a year but Laurel would talk to him every couple weeks.
She even went to the hospital’s scheduling web site and print off his work schedule so she know just when to call him.
On behalf of Laurel and the entire family, thank you for the friendship you provided him over the years and thank you for the
support you provided us the last few days.
Sincerely,
Jeff Chandler
****
I knew Chuck from the first neighborhood parties in the 1950’s when we were toddlers in the old neighborhood of Zengel plat
in Centerville. He and Alan Oppenheim and I played together our entire lives growing up through high school, though we went
to the parochial schools and he to the public schools. He was always the leader, inspiration, and risk-taker. It was in his back yard
that we built our tree house and played for hours. It was in the field behind his house that we had secret paths in the weed fields
leading to secret shelters.
It was with him at age 10 that we discovered some partially burnt Playboy pages that the older 13 year old boys had left at a
campfire next to the cemetery and thrilled to the discovery of (partially burned) naked female breasts. It was he that always got the
M-80 and Silver Salute firecrackers for us to have (such dangerous!) fun firing off every summer; my best memory is what it did to
a red ant hill in his backyard.
My father was a family physician who was a role model for me; I wonder if he was for him also. He never really talked about going
into medicine, only about going off to Dartmouth and playing football. I never saw him again after high school. I heard about him
over the years from my parents, and about 5 years ago I heard he had become an emergency physician, like I had. I was never able
to find him despite some Internet searches. It is certainly ironic that two playmates growing up in Centerville both eventually became
emergency physicians (which specialty wasn’t even invented until 1979). It sounds like he became an incredible person; certainly his
profession is an incredible one. While I hadn’t seen him in forty years, I am crying a few tears for the passing of one of my best
boyhood friends.
Dr. Mark DeBard
Clinical Professor of Emergency Medicine
Ohio State Medical School
MLDeBard@gmail.com
****
I was hiking on the moors
in southwest England when I got the call from Wayne. He had called the night
before but my phone had been on silence--I knew it couldn't be good. I returned
yesterday and wanted somehow to share these photos with everyone.
For me it is a partial
remedy to Jack Burnett's observation, "I think Potato would want us all to
be laughing about something but it's tough. Real tough."
If they show up in the
right order, the photos chronicle my pilgrimage down through the Dart river
valley, along a coastal path to the mouth of the River Dart where Kingswear Castle sits on one side and Dartmouth Castle sits
on the other, guarding the entrance to the town. Most are obvious. Dartmouth
Castle is the one on the left bank as I am facing the mouth of the river; it
has the white, reproduced turrets but the rest of it is real, hundreds of years
old and is amazing up close. My favorite, and the one that made me laugh, is
the college sign, the perfect definition of the Dartmouth community. The
pilgrimage ended with me tipping a pint of Old Speckled Hen, a salute to
Potato.
My fondest memories are
spending all hours of the days and nights at the Potato Hilton on Maple Street,
with Herbie and Chuck, trying between games of
cribbage, backgammon, and various other mind alterations, to chip away as best
we could at medical school. The Potato is a tremendous loss.
Jon Gavrin
(look
at photos in www.jandftech.com/potato/photos
- the photo sequence has been fixed)
****
I was getting ready for a planned trip when Marty Mehlberth '74 called me with the news. So sorry I missed the funeral, I would
have loved to relive all the memories of one of the best men I have ever known. I grew up with Chuck in Centerville and admired
him and wanted to be just like him in every way - he was my hero in high school. I went to Dartmouth in large part because of
Chuck and Chip Reese. One of my vivid memories of high school is when Chuck tackled the school bully into the lockers for
picking on kids who couldn't defend themselves. Everyone was afraid of this guy in the lower classes and that afternoon Chuck set
him straight. Chuck was not tolerant of injustice. My favorite college memory was walking the streets of Boston one early morning
on a road trip when we had nothing to do. He was in med school at the time. We talked about life, what we wanted the future to
look like and of course - girls. When I saw him last year in Dayton, I reached out to shake his hand and he pushed it aside for a big
bear hug instead. He always made me feel special. I am sure he did all of you as well.
He will surely be missed.
At the end of his life the apostle Paul wrote to Timothy, ".. the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight,
I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness . . . " These words are
certainly true for our beloved friend Chuck.
Rick "Pud" Pummill '75
Thanks for the website, it was a blessing.
****
More from Jack Manning:
Here are blurbs from Pete Zischke '52 and his wife Midge. Chuck and I lived with the Zischke family in California in the
summer of 1971. Three of the four Zischke kids eventually attended Dartmouth.
Chuck Thomas was a beautiful human being in all ways. Midge and I met
Chuck through Jack Manning when they lived with us in the summer of
1971. We got Chuck and Jack jobs at the magnificent rate of $1 per hour
- I repeat - $1 an hour - building a barn and digging post holes in hard
pan in Morgan Hill, California. We saw Chuck several times in Chicago
and in Hanover. He was always a gentleman. Imagine getting two Dartmouth
football players to work on a friends' barn in the California Valley
heat of 100 degrees for one dollar on hour.
Peter Zischke '52
I remember Jack's phone call about Chuck. He said you will love him; he
is beautiful. And was Jack right! We loved seeing him play football at
Dartmouth and I loved watching him and Jack eat us out of house and
home (I think!) Those two men are like extra sons to me - along with a
few others from Dartmouth!
Midge Zischke
****
Just received the news today; news was relayed to an old email address. Devastating. To just be with him and Terri in Palm Springs;
drinking a couple cold ones and sharing some good high school memories. Words can not totally describe what a good man this
was. It's a loss for those of us who knew him; and for all those he helped as a friend, as well as those through medicine.
I'm grateful to have known him and spent time with him in my life. He was an inspiration.
Greg Mann
CHS 69
Here are photos of our mini high school reunion this past March in Palm Springs.
There's some good shots of Chuck and Terri; not sure if you can pull any for your website; but thought you may be interested.
Greg Mann
CHS 69.
(Please go to the following link to see the photos)
http://adobe.kodakgallery.com/Slideshow.jsp?Uc=14ygq32e.cjqum8jy&Uy=-5h7dk7&Upost_signin=Slideshow.jsp%3Fmode%3Dfromshare&Ux=0&mode=fromshare&conn_speed=1
****
Tony Cort just forwarded your info to me. Thanks for putting up the web site. It was good to see people's love for Charlie in
writing. I was out in Chicago all week for the wakes and funeral and I'm just now recovering from the shock of it all. Chuck and I
were on the phone for an hour the night before. He had a couple of martinis in him and we were ready to solve the world's
problems. I loved Chuck, and was grateful I was able to tell him that before I begged off to hit the sack. I will miss him dearly.
I saw Sully at the funeral and he mentioned the lunches in NYC. Now that I'm officially retired from state service and NYSERDA
(surprise!), I'd like to make sure I'm on your invite list. I've taken about a month off, been as busy as I've ever been (and improved
my golf game). I am entertaining some private sector offers right now and will decide soon where I'll end up. I am very relieved to
be out of NYSERDA…fodder for the next lunch maybe? No, we should make Chuck and these all too constant reminders of our
own mortality the discussion piece. Anyway, Please drop me a line with all of your contact info and let me know when and where
then the next NYC dinner is. Also, we're trying to put together an reunion of Chuck's friends at the Dartmouth Football game
honoring Charlie's senior year championship team. As that comes together I'll keep you in the loop. Regards, Rick
Rick Gerardi
****
I just got this news and it
reminds us all how fragile life is. I saw Chuck at the Army-Dartmouth
Rugby game when the Dartmouth
Rugby field was
dedicated. That was about a year and half ago. He was the picture
of good health except for arthritis in a few
joints that we probably all feel. I am sorry but I had
to pick up Tara (Marc that is my youngest daughter at Gettysburg yesterday)
and I just saw this news on Saturday night at 10:30
pm. Chuck was one of a kind and I doubt anyone was more well liked on the
football team.
Chuck would have gotten a
kick out of me staying up until 2:30 am this past Thursday as I watched (and
rooted for Chip Reese)
who won the recent world championship of poker tournament
in Las Vegas. Well maybe they are right when they say only the good
die young. Chuck was one of the best.
Kevin O’Shea
****