Eight Bells: Charlie Phifer

Charlie Phifer, a man of stature and extreme accomplishments throughout his life, passed away New Year’s eve at his vineyard in Paso Robles, CA. He was in his mid-80s.

Charlie rose from humble beginnings in Tennessee, evolved into an Army Green Beret experiencing the horrors of the Vietnam War, and put himself through med school to become an accomplished radiologist. All of this and he was but one of the gang, always there smiling through untold festivities. A smiling disposition was always forefront when interacting.

On top of all that, i.e. interacting as simply being a member of the crew, he was an owner of one of the great racing yachts, Phantom. Charlie is no doubt with his partner in the yacht having a brew and smiling down from his new perspective.
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Perchance he for whom this bell tolls may be so ill, as that he knows not it tolls for him; and perchance I may think myself so much better than I am, as that they who are about me, and see my state, may have caused it to toll for me, and I know not that.
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No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main. If a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as if a manor of thy friend’s or of thine own were: any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind, and therefore never send to know for whom the bells tolls; it tolls for thee. – John Donne (1572-1631)
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Along with leaving behind his lovely wife Beverly, Charlie Phifer will be profoundly missed by all who knew him. – Terry Lalonde