blueeowyn: (Default)
As with many Fest people, I didn't know Chuck in his real life that well. We had chatted a bit about his kids (I had met two of them).

While at the church yesterday, I heard some more stories about him. He had arranged to paint some scenery for a play (it wasn't clear to me if it was for a church group or a school) and had made wallpaper using rolls of drawing paper on the cafeteria tables. He was wonderfully creative, caring, warm, and loving.

He was a gentle, shy humored man with a twinkle in his eye. He did so many tasks that people didn't know about or think about. He would adjust the volume at the Joust Field depending on who had the next line (which given that some people could be heard at the far end of the field w/out amplification is a GoodThing). He would tease people in the friendliest manner but was ever gentle and kind in it.

As it turns out, he was also stubborn and gave too much of himself, refusing to take the rest his body needed. He was scheduled to have surgery this week for his heart ... alas, it was not soon enough.

As another LJ user pointed out, that is two VERY important and completely irreplaceable people from the festival in two years. Both knew they had heart problems, both didn't share their problems more than necessary to others. Maybe we all need to take the American Heart Association http://www.americanheart.org/ more seriously.

Wind to thy wings
blueeowyn: (Default)
It is with a very heavy heart that I write another farewell to a Ren Fest Friend. Chuck Galczynski was The stage manager at the Festival for as long as I have been working there. There have been other managers, but he has always been there. He knew us all by name (and group) so that all we had to do was say "Good Morning Chuck" and get that wondrous sweet smile to know we were signed in.

He made the ID badges we all wore (changing them every year in some way). As time went by, his badges became more ornate and reflected that year as much as possible (the ones for the 2002 season had a crown with jewels to reflect the Crown Jewel display and the coronation).

He helped the jousters put on (and remove!) their helms and other pieces from "Chuck's House" at the joust field where he also ran the sound system.

But he was so much more than that. A sweet, caring, loving man who will be missed but won't get the accolades that Bill did since Bill was more visible. Chuck was the grease that kept a lot of things running and in some ways was the power behind the throne.

Until we meet again Chuck, Farewell, Fair Winds, and Calm Seas.

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