Charlie’s last day on the job will be Saturday, October 31.
Charlie started in August 2001, just weeks before the Grand Opening of the new Fairfield Branch. Over the years, Charlie has provided outstanding care of the building, built solid relationships with staff and the community, and supported ongoing efforts to renovate and improve the Fairfield Lane Library. And as Rob says, “Even though the Fairfield Branch was Charlie’s primary responsibility, he didn’t hesitate to respond when the other facilities needed his help. Charlie is that one-of-kind-employee. Charlie will be very hard to replace.”
He is the glue that holds us together. He has been in the current Fairfield building since Day 1 and it will not be the same without him greeting everyone in the morning with a smile. He shares all he knows with anyone that wants to learn. Charlie keeps our building looking fantastic and we can honestly say that we have the best bathrooms in town! Which is pretty incredible for a 19-year-old public building.
Charlie does everything, and we mean EVERYTHING! He handles janitorial supplies, fixes faucets, toilets, lights, walls, floors, ceilings, electrical issues, moving shelving, furniture, painting and more. He works with the Fairfield City guys on the inside and outside of the building so nothing is missed or neglected. One day you will find him outside washing the acres of windows on the building and the next day he is on the roof changing out the HVAC filters. Uh-oh, someone pooped all over the bathroom?! Never fear, Charlie is there with the Kaivac!
We needed something to keep DVDs from sliding too far back on the shelf – Charlie made us PVC stops! We needed something to keep patron’s possible germs during the pandemic from reaching staff – Charlie made PVC and vinyl ‘sneeze guards’! Mary C regards him as a certified “Miracle Worker.” When the lights need changed under the drive-thru overhang – Charlie climbs to the top of a ladder and stretches up to change them (we’ll hold the ladder for him even though it freaks us out how high he is)! And when the lights WAAAAAY up on the clock tower needed changed – guess who climbed up the fire department’s extension ladder to do it – yep, Charlie!
The security alarm goes off at 2am, and Charlie is here to meet the police and check everything out. He sets up our Christmas tree every year and always has a fun costume for Halloween. He never forgets anyone’s birthday either. The list goes on and on. He has also caught more birds, bats, squirrels, spiders, millipedes, and moths in our building than Desmond Howard caught passes for University of Michigan football. And he is just as good at demolition as he is at building things. He is our real life MacGyver.
Charlie is compassionate, truly has the biggest heart and someone we can all honestly call a friend. Heidi says, “I think the greatest gift, though, is his ability to make everyone feel welcomed and the way he always makes the mood a little lighter. Something we all desperately need.” When staff have had non-work related crises, he has always been there to help whether that means changing a car battery, rescuing keys locked in a car or quite literally rescuing Linsey when she’s had van issues. We will miss him dearly and want him to know how special it has been to have him as a member of our FFB and Lane family over the years.
Feel free to leave a comment wishing Charlie well!
Charlie, I have struggled for days trying to think of something meaningful to say about your retirement and how much you mean to me – to all of us, really. After so many thoughts and memories, I realized I can’t do it justice so I will just go with this…….
“You’re going on an adventure Charlie! You found a map Charlie, a map to Candy Mountain. You’re going on an adventure to Candy Mountain, Charlie! It’s made of sweets and joy and joyous! The magical Liopleurodon will guide you, Charlie…shun the non-believers Charlie! Chaaarrlie, Charrrrlie, Charrllleeee – go to Candy Mountain Charlie. Magical wonders are to behold when you get there – it’s called Retirement Charlie!”
So, in conclusion, I will miss you like crazy and “when I’m down and looking for some cheering up, I’ll just head right on up to the Candy Mountain Cave. It’s a happy and joy filled and perky merry land – Charlie’s there enjoying his retirement!”
Oh, and one last thing – Go BLUE!!
Jenn
Charlie!!! I’m so sad to see you go, but so happy that you’re going to have more time to do the things you love. I just wanted to say how much I appreciate everything you’ve done for me over the years – like helping me figure out where my furnace filter was supposed to go when I bought my house. I think of you every time I change it! … Is that weird?
I always knew I could come to you with a question or a problem, and you’d know the answer or have the solution. I miss working with you at FFB, but I loved that I was still able to keep in contact when I moved over to the Tech Center.
I wish you all the best in your retirement!!! Take care of yourself, and make sure to visit!!!!
Charlie!
To say I will miss you in an understatement. Thank you for how well you’ve always taken care of us in the building and throughout the system. I want to send a personal thank you for all the times you’ve MacGyvered my wheelchair or van, given sage advise and been there for me as a friend. Promise you’ll visit and stay in touch! You will still get random texts from me saying, “Hey Charlie, do you know anyone who….?”
Hugs and love,
Linsey
Hey Charlie,
So glad you can retire (you beat me to it). You really deserve this, but I’ll be sad to see you leave. I’ll miss your “hello sunshine” each day. Take care and stay in touch. Wishing you all the best.
Hugs,
Laura D. “Sunshine”