Roberto Javier ""Charlie"" Garsez

With heavy hearts we mark the passing of Roberto ""Charlie"" Javier Garsez. Charlie passed away peacefully in his sleep at home on January 16th 2017. He is survived by his loving wife of 35 years, Cindy Garsez, his four children, Matthew, Ashley, Alexander, and Zachary, along with his four grandchildren, Keira, Logan, Christian and David. As we are hurt and saddened by our loss we reflect on the profound impact that he had on all of us by the life he lived, his view of the world and the lessons that he taught us. Charlie was born in San Juan, Texas on November 6th 1959. He was the oldest son of three in a proud military family. Throughout his childhood he had the good fortune of traveling around the country and Europe with each of his father's assignments. From Texas to Germany, to Spain and eventually settling in Colorado Springs there was no shortage of new and interesting experiences and challenges. Throughout his childhood, baseball was always a constant for Charlie. Through the sport he learned many of the valuable lessons that shaped him into the man that he would become. After graduating from Harrison High School his talents on the field took him to Trinidad Junior College for two years before transferring to Phillips University in Enid, Oklahoma. It was in Enid where he met the love of his life, Cindy. The two were married in July of '81. They both worked to support the new life they had started and eventually moved back to Colorado to raise a family. In 1984 Charlie began to have health issues which led to him being diagnosed with Lupus in 1989. At this stage in his life the couple had already had 2 children with a 3rd on the way. While this news would have been devastating to most, it brought to light the many qualities so many admired in him. Qualities such as perseverance, resiliency, dignity and just plain stubbornness. His initial prognosis was 6-12 months to live. Not only did he surpass that timeframe but he went on to father their fourth child and to see them all grow into the fine adults they are today. While it is seemingly impossible to speak of Charlie without mentioning any one of his many health problems, he would never have let them define who he was. When you spoke to him you didn't see a condition or a disability, you saw strength and determination. There was not a person that met him that wasn't immediately drawn to his spirit. He had a wonderful sense of humor which resounded through any situation. He never wanted anyone to feel sorry for him and would often be too busy making others feel at ease to even receive their sympathies. No matter how impossible the odds seemed to be stacked up against him he was always determined to fight against it day after day, week after week, and year after year. It is true that Charlie was dealt a tough hand in this life, tougher than most would think possible for just one person. And while he struggled at first with accepting that there were certain things he would not be able to accomplish, he quickly found a new outlook on life. He reassessed what was really important to him. With the love and support of his wife and the love he had for his children he focused on the things he could do. How he could make their lives better, richer and fuller. He dedicated himself to teaching his children not simply about sports or how to play them, but the passion one should have while playing. Edict, sportsmanship, dignity and grace were not just words to him but ideals and qualities one should always have which that stretched beyond the field and into all aspects of one's life. His greatest pride was his children and grandchildren. He wouldn't let a single person go by without telling them about his daughter and three sons and relished each opportunity to do so. From the Soldier and Marine to the Teacher and Artist, he was delighted to tell them all where they were, what they were doing and where they had been in their lives. In his mind, his greatest accomplishments were the four of them. And knowing that he had a part making them into the people they had become brought him great peace. The mark Charlie had on this world may seem small to some. He didn't play ball in the majors, own a Mercedes, become a famous sportscaster, or even win the lottery. But those things were not what was important to him. He was a simple man who helped raise his family, a coach, he worked in stores and constantly on his yard. His gift was teaching us all how to live our lives. To take adversity head on. To not complain about what goes wrong in our lives. Enjoying the simplest things in life from fresh cut grass to a glass of ice water in the shade. To take pride in yourself and the way you present yourself to others. To the value of competitiveness, and that it's not important whether you win or lose but how you played the game. If we, who were so lucky to have him in our lives can pass on a mere fraction of the wisdom he instilled in us to people in our lives then his mark on this world will be immeasurable. Uva uvam vivendo varia fit