Posts Tagged ‘Charles (Chuck) VerMerris’

In Rememberance of R. Charles (Chuck) VerMerris

Thursday, May 26th, 2011

We at VN Services and VN International are saddened to announce the recent passing of Charles (Chuck) VerMerris.

Chuck has been an advisor to VN Services and VN International for more than 15 years.  His passing signifies the loss of a close friend, company adviser and very special fellow human traveler, in my life and in the life of our company.

I never knew anyone who could get so much accomplished with other people, without telling anyone what to do.  At our quarterly board of directors’ meetings, Chuck always asked questions in a way that he led us to the answers through our responses.

I first met him at the Chagrin Valley Hunt Club about 25 years ago.  I remember it like it was yesterday.  It took me about 3 minutes of conversation with Chuck to realize that I was speaking with a very special person.  He looked me straight in the eye and was fully engaged in our conversation even though this was in a place filled with distractions, as we were surrounded by other influential individuals who would be very helpful to Chuck’s business ambitions.  He was always very interested in who I was and what I was up to.  He was a wonderful model of human interactions, always showing us how to treat people, always showing interest in what I was interested in. 

I fondly remember how happy Chuck was at the helm of his beautiful sailboat.  This was a place he truly loved to be, and it was a delight to have shared many hours with him in that place.

With everything Chuck accomplished in his life, I never knew him to be haughty, arrogant or self-promoting.  Chuck “set the bar” very high and I am challenged to do the same.   

For all of us who have known Chuck, I would say that we have traveled this life with a very special human being.  

 Robert L. Vail