It’s a good thing Charlie Hartner is married because he’s the kind of guy who throws a woman off her game.
(Especially if her game is “impartial” journalism.)
Charlie has a mischievous grin, an easy laugh, and sparkling eyes. He’s courtly. He likes to dance. When he’s not volunteering in his community, he helps throw free beer-and-pizza parties and invites his neighbours – even the ones he doesn’t know. He’s in great shape. He’s eighty-two years old.
Right now, we’re talking as he coordinates a card tournament that’s in progress as we speak.
Charlie’s telling me stories about his life, his wife, his family, and what volunteering means to him now that he’s retired. Charlie was a Police Officer in Vancouver for 28 years, and the last handful of years were the “most enjoyable of my career”.
Bing!
Charlie rings the bell. The card players who’ve lost their hands rotate to the next table.
Why were those years the best?
Because, Charlie tells me, “at the very end of my policing career, I began working in schools.” Charlie was working with the community, in the community, and in a vastly less hostile, or even authoritarian role than ever before in his working life. He felt welcome in the schools, and he could see how his presentations helped his students (and adults). It was gratifying.
And so, after nearly three decades of working in the community, Charlie didn’t see any reason to stop contributing to his community just because he retired. If anything, he ramped up his schedule.
Bing!
Now, after retirement, Charlie and his wife Bernadette are part-time entrepreneurs, have a close knit family (two children, three grandchildren), enjoy spending time together at their vacation property in the Caribou, and still like to go out dancing.
Charlie also likes volunteering. He’s committed to his community and justifiably proud of the $10,000 that the social club he belongs to raised and donated to charities last year.
One of his favourite volunteer responsibilities – besides organizing card-games – are the visits that he and fellow Knights of Columbus make to hospitals and senior’s homes each month. They spend time with people who aren’t well, or are ‘shut-in’ and don’t receive many visitors. Charlie and his fellow volunteers bring food and entertainment – violins, music, singing – but most of all they bring good company. Just like his police work in schools so many years ago, with these visits Charlie sees how much people appreciate care and attention.
And that’s why he volunteers – a lot.
Charlie volunteers at least four days a week at Glen Pine Pavilion – a modern, bustling community centre for seniors in Coquitlam – sings in a choir, is an active member of the Knights of Columbus, and a key contributor to the Social Club at the Coquitlam apartment complex where he and his wife live.
(In a 20th floor penthouse. It’s a hard life but someone’s got to live it.)
And oh yes – he still works out every day. “You have to keep moving to keep moving,” he explains, smiling.
Obviously, Charlie’s a busy man – which is why I’m interviewing him while he supervises an afternoon of cards.
If this is what eighty-two looks like, then eighty-two looks good.
Bing!
