Charlie Richter

If you have been around New Rockford for even a day or two, there is a good chance you know who Charlie Richter is. If you somehow do not, allow me to introduce one of the most amazing men I have ever met. I had both the pleasure and honor of visiting him and his wife, Neola, in their beautiful home last week—and let me just say, if you don’t know Neola, or “Oley” as her old friends called her, even your grandmother’s apple pie has nothing on her sweetness.
As most of you know, I waitress at the Rockford Café. On Monday night, Mary Richter, the owner/my boss, was telling me about her father-in-law, Charlie, resigning from his 44-year-long position as the Garrison Diversion Board Director. That sounds like an incredible story of dedication, I thought, and to something I know virtually nothing about. If there are two things I love, they are learning and interviewing people—and interviewing people always leads to learning, especially in this case. I asked for the Richters’ phone number and called the next evening. I spoke to Neola and asked if I could come over later in the week to speak to Charlie, and she invited me over to their house that night. I was a little nervous, I hadn’t had my questions completely thought through and I didn’t want to seem ignorant or dim.
Neola let me in and explained she was worried I wouldn’t know where their new house was; Charlie and Neola had lived in the same house on Central Avenue for sixty-one years before building a new house a few blocks away last year. Charlie greeted me with a warm smile and when Neola suggested we sit at the table for the interview he laughed and asked “Why do you want to talk to me anyway?” I set up my laptop and voice recorder on my phone, which he found quite amusing, opening one of the greatest conversations I have ever had.
Sorry to leave you on that cliff-hanger, but I couldn’t possibly include such a story in one article, when I am already running over on my word limit! Next week, we will learn more about Charlie Richter and the impact you may not be familiar with from this dedicated legend.
Always, Anna