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Services
A memorial service will be held at the Vander May Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne on Saturday, October 1, 2016 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., followed by a service at 3 p.m.
Charles Tucker taught at Wayne Valley High School for 35 years. Teaching was not a job for him but a calling from which he found immense joy and in which he reveled. Possessing a prodigious memory, Mr. Tucker could recite passage-, no pages,- from many of his favorite authors. He could repeat from memory a passage appropriate for any occasion. All of his students remember his enthusiastic recitals from Moby Dick and from his favorite poets such as Walt Whitman and Hart Crane. Mr. Tucker loved Charles Dickens and every two years he reread each novel and relished in them as if it were the first time he’d read them. The years never tarnished his joy in teaching Shakespeare whether it was MacBeth or Hamlet or Julius Caesar.
Serving the teachers of Wayne as President and chief negotiator, Mr. Tucker, along with his friend and colleague Fred Roth, worked for the best conditions, medical benefits and salaries for his fellow teachers. He could be a fierce opponent whether in negotiations or in defense of a co-worker through a grievance.
Born in New York City, ‘Tuck’, as he was known, was raised in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Upon graduation from Catholic High School, he served his country as a paratrooper. Again, the risk and the excitement of a “jump” was something he anticipated and loved. (The hazardous duty pay was nice too). After his basic training, he was stationed in Germany where he developed a love of the land and language. (The food was good too). Perhaps it was at this time that he fell in love with Wagner and particularly Siegfried’s Journey to the Rhine, a piece of music he shared with his three sons at every opportunity. (Wagner never repeats a theme) One of the extra dividends was that Pop would sing along with the music - loudly. Locked in the car with Pop and Wagner was a treat for him and a treatment for us. After his service in the Army, Tuck joined the Pennsylvania National Guard for three years.
Now “at six and seven,” he was drifting until a neighbor teacher took him and registered him at Millersville State College from which he graduated with a B.S. in English and History. Upon graduation, Tuck came to Wayne looking for a job which he received and, of course, was to take great pleasure in the position. Simultaneously, he went to Fairleigh Dickinson University and earned a M.A. in English. Over the course of years, Tuck continued his education at William Paterson and Montclair Universities.
At Wayne Valley, he volunteered to be class adviser on several occasions. He organized the chess club, a game which he loved, and was thrilled at the victories and learning of his students. Finally, he became Student Council Advisor for a period of time. In all of these activities, Mr. Tucker took pride in the organization and skills the students learned and achieved.
While Tuck may have left Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania was never far from his heart. Frequent visits to his sisters Betsy and Bill and Rosemary and Dan, kept the family close. His sisters, who can make you feel loved simply by saying hello, made Thanksgiving the best holiday of the year. The trips to the Green Dragon farmer’s market with the guys and to Lititz with the ladies made the 13 cousins feel more like brothers and sisters.
Tuck was known to enjoy the occasional horse race, (there should be a plaque dedicated to him at the Meadowlands). He thought every well-educated man should be able to read a racing form and so instructed his sons and grandchildren in the Sport of Kings. Thus, all of his sons know that one should never bet a long-shot to show or ever bet on any horse that ever ran at Yonkers. Although he loved Bridge and had legendary games of pinochle with his parents at the kitchen table, Tuck thought his sons should know the gentlemanly games of craps, blackjack and that roulette is for amateurs. Slots were only to be played while waiting for the buffet to open. With his friend, Ed McCran, they fought bad traffic, bad cards and bad luck to emerge victorious…sometimes.
Tuck truly believed that one would never die if he experienced laughter, good humor and love. He was blessed with all three in a life that he lived completely and with a family that gave him unspeakable joy. With his “Flower,” his wife Joan, and three sons, Charlie, Edward and Michael, he had many wonderful and delightful moments, not matched until the births of each of his nine grandchildren: Bobby, Andrew, Emma, Faith, Caleb, Nathaniel, Michael, Isabelle and Hannah. These kids are the denominator to his happiness and contentment.
Finally, Tuck fought nobly against pancreatic cancer. He lost this struggle on September 26, 2016 with his Flower and family by his side. Saddened though his family and friends are, they take comfort in a man who choose a purposeful life and lived it fully. Surely, Mr. Tucker, Tuck, Pop, Dad, Grandpop, had a blessed life and we all were blessed to be in it.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you send donations to the St. Labre Indian School, P.O. Box 216, Ashland, Montana 59003-9989.
If you would like to send a private condolence directly to the family use this condolence section.
A memorial service will be held at the Vander May Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne on Saturday, October 1, 2016 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., followed by a service at 3 p.m.
Services
A memorial service will be held at the Vander May Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne on Saturday, October 1, 2016 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., followed by a service at 3 p.m.
Charles Tucker taught at Wayne Valley High School for 35 years. Teaching was not a job for him but a calling from which he found immense joy and in which he reveled. Possessing a prodigious memory, Mr. Tucker could recite passage-, no pages,- from many of his favorite authors. He could repeat from memory a passage appropriate for any occasion. All of his students remember his enthusiastic recitals from Moby Dick and from his favorite poets such as Walt Whitman and Hart Crane. Mr. Tucker loved Charles Dickens and every two years he reread each novel and relished in them as if it were the first time he’d read them. The years never tarnished his joy in teaching Shakespeare whether it was MacBeth or Hamlet or Julius Caesar.
Serving the teachers of Wayne as President and chief negotiator, Mr. Tucker, along with his friend and colleague Fred Roth, worked for the best conditions, medical benefits and salaries for his fellow teachers. He could be a fierce opponent whether in negotiations or in defense of a co-worker through a grievance.
Born in New York City, ‘Tuck’, as he was known, was raised in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Upon graduation from Catholic High School, he served his country as a paratrooper. Again, the risk and the excitement of a “jump” was something he anticipated and loved. (The hazardous duty pay was nice too). After his basic training, he was stationed in Germany where he developed a love of the land and language. (The food was good too). Perhaps it was at this time that he fell in love with Wagner and particularly Siegfried’s Journey to the Rhine, a piece of music he shared with his three sons at every opportunity. (Wagner never repeats a theme) One of the extra dividends was that Pop would sing along with the music - loudly. Locked in the car with Pop and Wagner was a treat for him and a treatment for us. After his service in the Army, Tuck joined the Pennsylvania National Guard for three years.
Now “at six and seven,” he was drifting until a neighbor teacher took him and registered him at Millersville State College from which he graduated with a B.S. in English and History. Upon graduation, Tuck came to Wayne looking for a job which he received and, of course, was to take great pleasure in the position. Simultaneously, he went to Fairleigh Dickinson University and earned a M.A. in English. Over the course of years, Tuck continued his education at William Paterson and Montclair Universities.
At Wayne Valley, he volunteered to be class adviser on several occasions. He organized the chess club, a game which he loved, and was thrilled at the victories and learning of his students. Finally, he became Student Council Advisor for a period of time. In all of these activities, Mr. Tucker took pride in the organization and skills the students learned and achieved.
While Tuck may have left Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania was never far from his heart. Frequent visits to his sisters Betsy and Bill and Rosemary and Dan, kept the family close. His sisters, who can make you feel loved simply by saying hello, made Thanksgiving the best holiday of the year. The trips to the Green Dragon farmer’s market with the guys and to Lititz with the ladies made the 13 cousins feel more like brothers and sisters.
Tuck was known to enjoy the occasional horse race, (there should be a plaque dedicated to him at the Meadowlands). He thought every well-educated man should be able to read a racing form and so instructed his sons and grandchildren in the Sport of Kings. Thus, all of his sons know that one should never bet a long-shot to show or ever bet on any horse that ever ran at Yonkers. Although he loved Bridge and had legendary games of pinochle with his parents at the kitchen table, Tuck thought his sons should know the gentlemanly games of craps, blackjack and that roulette is for amateurs. Slots were only to be played while waiting for the buffet to open. With his friend, Ed McCran, they fought bad traffic, bad cards and bad luck to emerge victorious…sometimes.
Tuck truly believed that one would never die if he experienced laughter, good humor and love. He was blessed with all three in a life that he lived completely and with a family that gave him unspeakable joy. With his “Flower,” his wife Joan, and three sons, Charlie, Edward and Michael, he had many wonderful and delightful moments, not matched until the births of each of his nine grandchildren: Bobby, Andrew, Emma, Faith, Caleb, Nathaniel, Michael, Isabelle and Hannah. These kids are the denominator to his happiness and contentment.
Finally, Tuck fought nobly against pancreatic cancer. He lost this struggle on September 26, 2016 with his Flower and family by his side. Saddened though his family and friends are, they take comfort in a man who choose a purposeful life and lived it fully. Surely, Mr. Tucker, Tuck, Pop, Dad, Grandpop, had a blessed life and we all were blessed to be in it.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you send donations to the St. Labre Indian School, P.O. Box 216, Ashland, Montana 59003-9989.
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