In Memorium: Charlie Knowles
On August 22, 2006, TeenAIDS and I lost a wonderful friend and editor. Charlie Knowles of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts succumbed to cancer after a heroic battle that he fought with courage and grace. He was dedicated to the mission of TeenAIDS and believed that PeerCorps model of teen volunteers was the most effective weapon in the fight against youth HIV. He believed in this cause so deeply that he volunteered a major portion of his life in his last two years, even while undergoing chemotherapy, to edit our entire website and many of my written pieces. Charlie was the copy editor of my new book.
We emailed constantly and were on the phone a lot. We often met at the lunch counter at Whole Foods in Cambridge because it was a convenient spot between our homes. I was supposed to meet with Charlie again in late July but had to cancel because of minor surgery this summer. I will always regret that I missed that get-together.
When his mother Teedy Dabney emailed me that he was in his final stage, I was surprised. Why, he had just phoned two weeks before and we talked business, politics and had a few good laughs. I asked him how he felt and he said: "tired but I am doing as well as can be expected." We had discussed his dying yet he was an optimist to the very end. He had married his wife Sheilah a year before and he was excited that they had adopted a young baby girl, Kagan from China. He had plenty of reasons to want to live.
I visited Charlie the day before he passed away at his family home. He was in and out of consciousness as he slept in the sunlight that bathed his room and our eyes met briefly. Whether he knew that was me visiting, I'll never know but I will never forget this special friend. A few days before the visit I sent the following email to Charlie that his mother read to him a few times:
Hey there, my buddy and editor! I want you to know how very much you mean to me! I was looking forward to us getting together for a fun lunch again and our friendly, sometimes irreverent banter, but now, it might not happen. Your kind mother called me this afternoon with the news of your condition when it was not possible for me to speak to you personally. I pray you will get better. You are one of the very special friends that I have made in the last few years since I have been doing my work. I am so thankful for Todd putting us in touch.
I admire you Charlie and have marveled at your work for TeenAIDS -- how you so easily could edit and turn my rough words into golden prose. You have such a knack for phraseology and a true skill for how the right words can change a random thought into a meaningful one that could impact the lives of vulnerable youth. I am amazed how you would keep sending me one email after another with your detailed corrections -- remember, the Glossary? You have a very special talent and it showed in everything you did professionally.
We shared a lot of hearty laughs Charlie, and some silly giggles. I liked how our humor meshed and our constant joking with each other was sublime. I loved seeing your big grin when I said something ridiculous. Our lunches were as much fun as they were work! We felt the same way about politics and world affairs. Then your face would grow serious and your passion for humanity and justice burned in your eyes. But your smile would always shine through because your optimism and zest for life and people ruled your heart.
Your unbelievable work with us has helped make the universe safer for teens -- you should always be very proud of your unselfish dedication to this effort. Rest assured that I will let people know about my special friend and colleague. I won't forget you, dear friend.
I regret few things in my life, but I will greatly miss you seeing you again and the sunshine you brought to me and everyone. I wish I had met Sheilah and seen Kagan. How you became so animated when you talked of them!
Please Charlie, always know that so many people that you will never know personally were and will be touched deeply by your service to TeenAIDS and the young people you helped with your work. I love you, my buddy. Go in peace, Charlie. Your friend for life, John
Charlie with his brothers Joe and Bobby
With Sheilah
With his neices and nephews and Sheilah and Kagan
This was Charlie's bio that he personally wrote for the Staff page:
Charlie Knowles finished his education years ago at Northeastern University where he majored in English and continues his “education” today full-time. Colleagues call him a proficient wordsmith. He has worked in and around Boston as a copy editor at magazines and a newspaper, and now he freelances for friends and associates. He loves to read and is currently immersed in the American Revolution. In July 2005, he married Sheilah which is “the best thing” that has happened to him. Presently, he is copy editor of the new book, Teens, Sex and AIDS, the Global Walk of Dr. John. He says he has never met anyone like John Chittick before and knows that he can help John spread the word about AIDS.