I have been trying to wrap my head around this news ever since I received it on Friday. Charlie was, no doubt, an icon in our community. Even people who never met him or sat in on one of his courses/sessions knew who he was. My grandfather once told me, “Never die because then people will be telling stories about you and you will not be given a chance to rebut them.” So let me share a couple of stories about my experiences with Charles before David demonetizes me for breaking protocol.
I was standing in CUDS one night sipping my bourbon and minding my own business when this cute girl walks up to me and starts talking. “Hey, I might get lucky,” I thought. But, No, she was a newbie with some technical questions. I listened because, after all, we were there to share. But all I could answer with was, “I don’t know.” I could see that she was getting frustrated so I told her we could find someone that could help. “They told me that you would know all of the answers.” Huh? “Find the guy in the cowboy hat and ask him, they said.” Knowingly, at this point, I smiled and said, “No, Ma’am. I’m the tall, good looking one. You want Charlie.” So I tracked him down for her (it was before cell phones) and Charlie, of course, helped her. Later, when I recalled the interaction to Charles, he laughed.
At another conference we were setting up the data center and peripherals; we had two days to do that; won’t go into details but it has to be easier these days. I mean, who strings twinax anymore? Charles was our fearless leader. But there was a problem with the AS/400 (!) and Reg opened in two hours so Charlie was up to his armpits in trouble. He called me aside and said, “Look, today is Karen’s birthday (or anniversary, whatever). I was going to send her some flowers, but I can’t get away. Could you do that for me?” Not a problem. Another aspect of Charles: He was devoted to his family.
We did not always agree. Once he was telling me about the new Suburban that he bought. He was looking forward to talking the family out in it when the snow finally came to Michigan. I just shook me head and said, “You are a sick puppy, Charles.” He, you see, liked the snow and cold as much as I hate them.
We usually exchanged letters each year, normally around his birthday. Nothing deep and certainly not technical. But Charles never forgot a friend. Last year, though, I did not send that letter; probably laziness or I was just too busy. Well, I’ll catch up next year, I thought. That’s why I have been trying to wrap my head around his news; there won’t be a next year. But I can remember him here not just as an iconic technician, but as someone who could laugh at himself, stood by his friends, helped out others, and, I think most tellingly, was devoted to his family.
Jerry C. Adams
Not everything faced can be changed. Nothing can be changed until it is faced. -James Baldwin
IBM i Programmer/Analyst
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615-585-2175
-----Original Message-----
From: MIDRANGE-L [mailto:midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Larry "DrFranken" Bolhuis
Sent: Wednesday, May 11, 2022 8:24 PM
To: Midrange Systems Technical Discussion
Subject: Charlie Massoglia, he will be messed.
This week Monday we lost another long time IBM i and COMMON iCon,
Charlie Massoglia. Charlie was 73.
Charlie’s memorial will be Tuesday, May 17 at Mount Hope Church, 202 S.
Creyts Road, Lansing. The family will receive visitors at 11 a.m. The
service will begin at noon with luncheon to follow. In lieu of flowers,
memorial contributions are suggested to the Greater Lansing Food Bank,
P.O. Box 16224, Lansing, MI 48901.
https://greaterlansingfoodbank.org/
Charlie was a 33 year volunteer with COMMON and served in many roles
including President. He was well know especially for his RPG sessions.
Special ribbons will be available at POWERUp! in two weeks to remember
Charlie.
- DrF.
midrange.com
