Chuck Carpenter RIP 5-3-2020

Photo: LHS Reunion golf outing July 2019. Chuck is in blue polo and white shorts (4th from left)

Obituary for Charles A. Carpenter, Jr.

July 18, 1956 - May 3, 2020
Cleveland, Ohio | Age 63

Loving Husband, Father and Grandfather 

Charles A. Carpenter, Jr.

At Lakewood's Horace Mann Junior High in 1970, every interested boy could join the Purple Pups football team. But when they started handing out helmets, they ran out before they got to a last-place, skinny kid named Chuck Carpenter. So his dad bought him a close substitute at Uncle Bills. A set of free weights and some mom-made peanut-butter milkshakes later, and Charlie became a varsity starter who was All Lake Erie League—Offense AND Defense, and was also a starter in basketball, baseball, and track, and even got a full, four-year ride to college to play football! With the help of his mom's rebounding, Charlie could make nine out of ten free throw shots blindfolded.

Every kid on the bench needs to hear the Charlie Carpenter story. Hollywood makes movies about underdogs like Charlie, and actors can only pretend to be the kind of faith-filled overcomer Charlie was and is.

On Sunday, May 3rd, 63 yr. old Charlie was working in the yard with his wife Dana of 17 years and suddenly collapsed and died of heart failure. In addition to his much-beloved wife, Dana (nee Edman), Charlie is survived by his three sons, Charles III (Cassie), Brian, and Daniel, and a granddaughter Olivia (daughter of Charles III), his father, Charles A. Carpenter Sr., and his sister Kimberley Moore (Edward), brother Scott Carpenter (Nanette Yannuzzi), and sister Laura Nelson (Peter), as well as many nephews and nieces and seven great-nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his mother, Janet M. Carpenter (nee Kapl).

Charlie became an LPN in a mid-life career change and became the favorite of his nursing home residents wherever he worked. He and his wife even prayed for his patients, and such was his deep and sincere care for them.

He joined his wife Dana, an ordained EPC minister, in a long-running inner-city mission she began in 1995 —The Isaiah Project, volunteering tirelessly and working alongside her to bring the transforming power of the Gospel to inner-city youth.

Charlie loved home projects. One of his first dates with Dana was fixing the plumbing in her apartment. (That's a keeper, right?) Last year Charlie and Dana bought a large, somewhat neglected home on Cleveland's west side and began transforming it. Charlie, true to his Carpenter genes, rebuilt the entire first floor and was starting on the second and attic levels when God called him home. Everything and everyone he touched was way better off when Charlie stepped in--even his house.

Charlie was spontaneous, loving to hop in the car with Dana and just drive, go for hikes and antiquing, finding new places to eat. They loved Loudonville, where they spent their honeymoon and many wedding anniversaries. Dana and Charlie did everything together, side-by-side. A deeply sensitive man, even movies could make him cry. Dana told the family, "There is no one who loved me the way he did."

In lieu of flowers, and because we cannot gather, please consider a contribution made in Charlie's memory to The Isaiah Project, 3396 West Blvd., Cleveland, Ohio 44111.

The family will have a private visitation, but a large bash is planned for some time in the summer, (which will be announced on our website) and much effort will be made to get the word out to come and celebrate this marvelous, precious, much-loved man. (440) 333-9774 www.buschcares.com

I last saw Chuck at a Lakewood High School reunion golf event in July 2019. Amid the shuffle of carts, putting on golf shoes and learning details of pairings, we chatted (albeit briefly). We didn't need to talk much since we had so many shared experiences. He lived across the street. He was a teammate. He was a friend. We both had smiles on our faces, just recalling so many little wonderful moments of growing up in the City of Homes - Lakewood, OH. Upon learning of his passing, I could not help but wish to replay our conversation in my head. He was such a gentle and loving soul. He reported updates on his life and family with an unassuming way without bragging. Yet in his face you could see he was beaming with pride. Clearly he was an accomplished human being. He is the sort of person you know and maybe even take for granted. God called you home. And maybe that is a good thing for all of us who knew you. Put in a good word for us Chuck. Rest in peace.

– Wesley Morgan, Friend, St. Louis, MO, May 07, 2020

Album Covers

I’m not a big fan of internet challenges that periodically appear on facebook. But once in a while I am almost hooked into the game. Recently, I noted with interest one such challenge: post ten album covers. I thought about the lost art of LP Record Albums. The covers jar memories and mark time. The list below is perhaps proof positive that the art that accompanies music has a certain power. The music and the marketing tell a story about a time and a place in popular culture.    

1961 Holiday Sing Along with Mitch - Initially airing on NBC, Sing Along with Mitch (Miller) went on to become a weekly series. The album was a holiday staple in our house.

1962 The First Family – A comedy album featuring comedian Vaughn Meader is a good-natured parody of then- President John F. Kennedy and his family. It was a hit before the nation endured a tragic assassination.

1963 Oliver! Charles Dickens’s story of Oliver Twist was the basis for Lionel Bart’s Oliver! which arrived on Broadway at the Imperial Theatre in January and ran 774 performances and won several Tony® Awards. In our Catholic household it was easy to role play the orphan begging for “more.”

1964 Meet the Beatles! – The Beatles second album released in the United States was the first US Beatles album to be issued by Capitol Records. It topped the popular album chart and remained at number one for eleven weeks before being replaced by another Beatles album. Of course we tuned in to Ed Sullivan to see them but the music was ever-present.

1967 Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits is the first compilation album by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan released on March 27, 1967 on Columbia. It contains every Top 40 single Dylan enjoyed through 1967. The famous Milton Glaser poster insert and all of those songs that reflect the mood of a nation.

1973 Goodbye Yellow Brick Road is the seventh studio album by Elton John, first released in 1973. The album has sold more than 30 million copies worldwide and is widely regarded as John's best. An unmistakable sound track in high school. Years later the candle in the wind was repurposed for Diana.

1974 Good Evening – Peter Cook and Dudley Moore in “Good Evening,” opened at the Plymouth Theater in NYC in 1973. In the 60s and 70s, they were a major part of the new comedy era. Cook and Moore hosted Saturday Night Live in January 1976 and did a number of their classic stage routines, including “One Leg Too Few” and “Frog & Peach.” So much fun to share these bits with friends. My mom took me to see this play at the Hanna Theater in Cleveland.

1977 Saturday Night Fever is the soundtrack album from the 1977 film starring John Travolta. It is one of the best-selling albums in history, selling over 40 million copies worldwide.  album epitomized the disco phenomenon. In college I was not a fan of disco but the influence was undeniable on the Coral Gables campus of the University of Miami.  

 

1978 A Wild and Crazy Guy by Steve Martin. It reached number two on Billboard’s Pop Album chart. The album was eventually certified double platinum. It contains the hit novelty single “King Tut” which Martin performed on Saturday Night Live. Silly but fun, and I could not help seeing Steve Martin at the movies in The Jerk in 1979.

1983 Thriller is the sixth studio album by Michael Jackson. Quincy Jones was producer. By the end of 1983, Thriller became the best-selling album of all time, having sold 32 million copies. Thriller remains the best-selling album of all time, with sales of 66 million copies worldwide. Michael turned it up a knotch with regard to production of video and music.

1984 Born in the U.S.A. is the seventh studio album by Bruce Springsteen. It was released by Coumbia Records. Born in the U.S.A. became his most commercially successful album and one of the highest selling records having sold 30 million copies by 2012. I married a Jersey girl who could listen to the Boss all day long.

1991 Nevermind is the second studio album by Nirvana. Despite the initial low commercial expectations, Nevermind became an unexpected critical and commercial success. Nevermind has sold over 30 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling albums of all time. The focus was now on West Coast Grunge.

2002 The Eminem Show is the fourth studio album by rapper Eminem. The album also saw Eminem take a substantially more predominant production role with Dr. Dre as executive producer. The album has sold 27 million copies worldwide.

2003 Chicken-n-Beer is the fourth studio album by rapper Ludacris. The album debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200, selling 429,000 copies in its first week. 

At the Movies

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AMA St. Louis presents Foresight 2020

Bill Ellis skillfully served as MC at the American Marketing Association of St. Louis 59th Annual Conference at the Danforth Plant Science Center.

Board members had been planning this conference for months, but success is determined in a lot of well-planned details that assure quality speakers who are prepared with smart professional content. The venue, technology, foodservice and hundreds of other details can have an impact on profitability and living up to the ambitious goal of being relevant. The chapter mission to advance the study and practice of marketing is also an important measure of this and all of our programmimg.

This conference scores high marks. Notable was the quality of presentations and the smooth transitions from speaker to speaker. While the audience had opportunities to move to breakout sessions, I stayed put in the auditorium for Kathy Button Bell (CMO of Emerson), Jeff Stevens (Owner of Wellbeing), Hafiz Huda (former Creative Director at Amazon), Mitch Meyers (CEO of BeLeaf Company) and Tara Rogers-Ellis (co-founder of MOJO PR). As a bonus, conference goers had the opportunity to visit local agencies 2e Creative, Coolfire and New Honor Society in the afternoon.

Heidi Singleton deserves special recognition for taking on conference co-chair responsibilities. She was instrumental in the critical program and technology support for speaker interface, PowerPoint, sound and more. She lead the effort to keep the program focused on its name, FORESIGHT 2020: A LOOK AT WHAT MATTERS NEXT.

Congratulations to all at AMA St. Louis and all of those who made this the 03.06.2020 conference among the best in 59 years.

 















Here's the summary of events as posted on chapter website:

59^th Annual Saint Louis AMA Conference
March 6, 2020 at the Danforth Plant Science Center

Be inspired by global thought leaders on what matters next in the future of marketing.

Conference Program:

7:30 to 8:00  Registration and Networking 

8:00 to 8:15  Welcome – AT&T Auditorium

8:15 to 8:50 – AT&T Auditorium

Kathy Button-Bell, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Emerson

The Demand for Authentic Purpose for all Businesses in 2020

Customers, investors, corporate boards, the Business Roundtable, employees and prospective employees are all currently casting a cynical eye toward companies and their moral compasses. The newfound transparency offered by LinkedIn, Glassdoor and other social media vehicles make corporations as porous as an egg shell, and just as fragile.  This is a discussion of developing authentic company values and consistently communicating a story of rich corporate culture both inside and out. It could be your prescription for illuminating your Purpose in 2020.

9:00-9:30 Breakout Session 1 (Choose 1)

Jeff Stevens, Owner, Wellbeing Brewing – AT&T Auditorium

What is Authenticity? 

It’s rare to see a creative brief that doesn’t include the word “authenticity.” Every brand wants it, but what does it actually mean? Jeff Stevens talks about his journey in creating brands and what authenticity actually means (or doesn’t) in a creative brief and the work that follows.

Dr. Raj Sachdev, Professor, Columbia College – Lagenberg Theater

The Future of Marketing Strategy in a Global Security and Privacy Environment

Cybersecurity is becoming the new mark of a stalwart brand, and its success or failure can make or break a consumer’s trust. Dr. Sachdev will describe key cybersecurity and privacy issues that marketers can expect over the next 5-10 years and beyond, and analyze key marketing strategies in this ever-changing environment.

9:40 to 10:15 – AT&T Auditorium

Hafiz Huda, Fmr. Creative Director, Amazon

Finding Human Purpose for Your Brand

In the age where every brand is trying to find a brand purpose that can change the world, we need to become much more grounded in the daily lives of the customers we serve. Everyone wants to break through the clutter, but if your brand can provide a relevant opportunity for people to engage, you win in the marketplace. Hafiz will discuss his experiences in shaping the Amazon Go brand and how a practical approach to storytelling creates the right opportunity for people to care.

10:30-11:00  Breakout Session 2 (Choose 1)

Mitch Meyers, CEO BeLeaf Company – AT&T Auditorium

The Future of Cannibas Marketing

A great scholar once said, “Whoever laughs last is probably the most stoned.” In the age where the cannibas category is becoming more legitimate (and legal) by the year, the brands and marketers who get there first will certainly have the last laugh. Learn about how cannibas is changing the face of health and wellness, and how marketing will set the stage for the adoption and explosion of this emerging catgeory.

Ryan Brown

Chief Strategy Officer, New Honor Society – Lagenberg Theater

Ready for Hire: Future-proofing your Portfolio

The ubiquity of our media, the marketing within it, and the tools to create the content that feeds it, have placed a new premium on the perspectives that inform the solutions we create. Yet articulating your ‘why’ behind your work is as impossible as ever in a time-starved world of goldfish attention spans and hard-to-impress super-critics. In this session we’ll expose how the desperation in the hunt for creative talent is changing the industry’s filter on portfolios of work, the people behind them, and the new expectations of creatives in the workplace.

11:10 to 11:45 – AT&T Auditorium

Tara Rogers-Ellis, Co-founder & Managing Partner, Mojo PR

The Myths, the Truths & the Fundamental Tools to be Successful in Business Anywhere in the World

Having worked across a number of continents, and in vastly different cultures, Tara has learnt the fundamentals of being successful in business no matter where you are in the world.

In today’s world, where geographies can be traversed in a day, and business opportunities abound around the globe, knowing the basics for building a successful business anywhere will stand you in good stead.d.

11:45 – 12:00 Student Awards – AT&T Auditorium

12:15 Leave for Agency Crawl

2:00 – 2e Creative, 411 N 10th St #600

3:00 – Coolfire, 415 N 10th St

4:00 – New Honor Society, 555 Washington Ave 2^ndFloor

Parker is Back

I was excited to see Parker and his bandmates return to Off Broadway in Saint Louis on August 15, 2019. The venue is a great one for live music lovers. I‘ve anticipated his return to Saint Louis even before I had the pleasure of seeing him in Nashville when he married my niece in June. I noted that my brother was unable to contain his joy at that union. As father of the bride he was compelled to windy toasts and well wishes for the couple. To be sure, my brother vetted the singer/songwriter thoroughly. This is the fifth time I’ve seen him in concert in St. Louis and I think he’s pretty okay as well. More importantly, my niece is ready and has no plans to make Other Arrangements. Parker’s new wife is gonna help Root Nashville, a public-private campaign, led by Metro Nashville and the Cumberland River Compact, to plant 500,000 trees across Davidson County by 2050. Wow.

Parker Millsap, originally from a small town in Oklahoma (Purcell). He first picked up a guitar when he was just nine years old. After becoming interested in blues greats like Stevie Ray Vaughan and Eric Clapton, Millsap switched over to electric guitar and started a cover band with classmate, Michael Rose, who still plays bass with the band. Millsap attributes his lifelong dedication to music to his Pentecostal upbringing. Over the years he recruited musicians Daniel Foulks (fiddle) and Andrew Bones (Drums) to join his band.

Since the release of his first full length album, Palisade, in 2012, Parker has enjoyed tremendous success in the music industry. Three more CDs (Parker Millsap, The Very Last Day and Other Arrangements), recognized as emerging artist of the year by the Americana Music Association in 2014, appearing on TV - Conan in 2016, performing with Sir Elton John in London and taped for Austin City Limits. What fun it is to see the band again at Off Broadway. He’s here one night and “poof” he’s on the road to perform the very next night in Paducah.

Photo of Parker by James Coreas

A summary of my local fandom as of this night:

Parker is back at Off Broadway Thursday night August 15, 2019. In the sky that night a full moon is forming (officially the next morning). Jack Klatt opens for Parker, Michael, Daniel and Andrew Bones.

Parker on stage at the Old Rock House on Seventh Avenue September 26, 2018, a Wednesday night with a full moon.

At the Pageant on November 23, 2016 are Parker Millsap and his band mates on stage supporting J J Grey and Mofro Parker Millsap plays the Pageant in the loop of University City.

The Glory Bound Grahams opened with a set that included the lyrics - Put your hand in mine, it’s revival time set the stage for Parker, Michael and Dazniel audience was treated to a well orchestrated show that worked its way up to Hades Pleads as the finale on Friday May the 13, 2016 at Off Broadway in the Cherokee Lemp Historic District of St. Louis.

The band with Michael Rose (Bass), Parker Millsap, Daniel Foulks (Fiddle) at the Old Rock House in St. Louis April 2, 2014. 

A shout out to Dave and Joyce Cox, Alex Bornstein and some staffers from Litz who came out on a school night to hang with me

Airplane Parts Warehouse

This story by David Drimer is a draft he shared with me via e-mail on July 3, 2019. The guy has always had a way with words. The image of the airplane parts warehouse was borrowed from somewhere on the world wide web - a place in Seattle I think. 

Drug Mule: Down & Out in Paradise

by Dave Drimer

So I was near dead broke in Miami in the middle of a blistering summer and I needed do-re-mi. Yeah, it’s a thing. “Judge Yoda not, needed the money Yoda did, mmm.” Got a no skills/no experience necessary job doing inventory in a gigantic airplane parts warehouse alongside lifelong proles and ex-cons.

One guy had been a union forklift operator at the airport, working on the international cargo loading dock. In the 70s, he was making $65 per hour, time and half for overtime and double time over 50 hours. Sometimes he worked 60-hour weeks and he socked away a lot of dough. So he and his best friend got entrepreneurial in a creative way that only uneducated guys with too much money and a lot of time on their hands can. America is the land of opportunity, right?

They went down to Jamaica, bought one ton of weed (it was easier to make connections like that, given the place and time, than you would imagine).  They had their box shipped to a fictitious company in Miami. The plan worked perfectly: the weed came in; he picked it up and set it aside; called his friend who rented the truck. They agreed they would do the pick-up right before closing time when everybody was tired and nobody gave a crap. For my shipping industry pals, it was classed as “Household Goods, NES.” This was a perfect crime; nobody ever checked. Not ever.

About 5 minutes before he expected his friends and the truck, he sees a little cold, wet black nose turn the corner and come through the door, 2 uniformed customs agents in tow. He didn’t even have time to register his heart sinking when the dog goes freaking berserk (this was before they were forced to do the passive reaction thing, which is another drug mule story for another day). The agents release the dog and he runs right to the guy’s crate, starts barking up a storm, literally biting the box. They crack the crate and it’s packed in so tightly the contents burst out, flying up into the air.

The entire loading dock crew pissed themselves laughing. The agents were high fiving and jumping up and down because they finally made a bust. My guy was kicking little bits of pot into the corner, trying not to burst into tears. He ended saving about an ounce and a half. He was never implicated, just out $12K plus.

Terrific denouement for the story: he ended getting laid off from his great union job. Some real world irony, right? Totally broke. Working in an airplane parts warehouse with me, and a lot of big scary guys you didn’t talk to if you didn’t have to and never, ever looked them straight in the eyes. I lasted 2 weeks on that job. The boss didn’t appreciate my cogent opinions about improving warehouse logistics.

To this day, I am confident my co-worker doesn’t realize he was set-up by his seller.  You see, throwing a one-time buyer under the bus was no sweat off his nose. In fact, it was good for business. Everybody was on the take in those days, it was take the money or be dead. People chose being rich over being cold.  The agents had to show something occasionally to avoid the scrutiny that eventually ended up coming their way (greed gets you every time). My guy thought he had bad luck. He never had a chance.

###

David Drimer 

davidpdrimer@gmail.com

Neu Talent Show 2019

The World Awaits – 2019 Talent Show

Friday, March 15, 2019 is the date for our annual talent showcase. The show is held from 12:30 – 2:00 on the Friday before Spring break. Consistent with the school year theme THE WORLD AWAITS performers were encouraged (but not required) to leverage content about the world/travel/destination. Acts could consist of individuals, groups or solo acts (music, song, dance, magic, performance or artistic expression). Students must have signed permission slips to participate (and sponsors are responsible for appropriate material). A sign-up sheet was available months in advance in the staff mailroom and the front office. It included some acceptable music choices (suggestions). Wes Morgan, talent show impresario was on hand for this his fourth year of being point man for this annual happening.

Some details in advance of the show: The World Awaits – themes about travel/destination/global issues (or any display of talent/performance). Students interested in performing may sign up on a sheet located in the front office. Students must be signed up by February 15, 2019 and have signed permission slip by March 1, 2019. Students must be compliant with all school rules and be in good standing to be eligible to participate. It is sponsor’s responsibility to oversee act, assure appropriate material, and supervise student performers. (Classroom teachers for acts involving their class only are assumed to be supervising sponsor for class acts. Students should be supervised by homeroom class staff unless approved by school administrator.) Acts are limited to 2 minutes (for classes) and no more than 90 seconds for individual/small group acts. Invitations for parent and families will be provided by March 1, 2019. Please make sure they get home. (You may also want to include Talent Show in your monthly newsletters in February and March). Students must remain in good standing to participate. (Suspension from school on show date will make student ineligible to participate.)Music, CD or flash drive of music/graphics must be provided before March 1, 2018 for review and processing for the show. Dress rehearsal will be in the gym on March 14 (the day before the show)

Thank you for your enthusiasm. 

It was a great show.