It is a great honor to be able to call Charly your friend. When I asked my two sons, "What was special about Charly?" they answered very spontaneously: "He understood us, the young people. He was young in spirit, different from the other old people, and so kind. He was above all a man of reflection."
These qualities of character were not given to him for free. Charly was, by nature, anything but a Saint. He was, and remained, an unorthodox Christian. He had to go through many, many changes and many hot and cold showers before he became the helpful and caring person we had the joy of knowing. He had found a simple faith in a higher power.
We had met in Caux some thirty years ago. For me - young, impetuous and passionate - he was already an old man. It was not so simple, but Charly had the patience, the conviction and the flair to guide me. What particularly impressed me was the way he took care of the workers in Caux and all those who worked behind the scenes. Charly and his wife, Ruth, always knew how to take care of people in their own way. Their generous hospitality, as well as their spontaneity, have always deeply impressed us.
Who was Charly really? His life was fascinating, mysterious and full of contradictions. He was a man of action and few words, hypocrisy and affectation. When it came to say uncomfortable, he had to do violence.
He hated a truth The biblical parable of the camel, the needle and the rich man has always been a timely theme. Charly was rich: rich in mistakes, joy of life, humor, sensitivity and wisdom. If he was convinced of something, he also gave of his material wealth by going straight to the point, of his own accord and never under pressure. He had made a decision to submit his life to obedience to the Creator.
The reconciliation, the peoples' union, the reconstruction, the positive and global dimension, all this had excited him. What especially delighted his heart was that in this task, all his know-how and professional experience could be used.
Ueli Gautschi
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