Charles Henderson

After graduating from A.B. Davis in June 1957, I joined the U.S. Coast Guard’s six-month active duty – seven and one-half year Reserve program. I chose this direction to fulfill my military obligation without being away too long, being my dad wanted me to take over his electrical contracting business. I received my orders to report to basic training in Cape May, New Jersey. October 1957, my commanding officer informs me that my father died, and I was to go home on a hardship discharge. Taking over my dad’s business was out of the question. I told my mother to sell the business. After advanced training in the coast guard, I decided to learn the printing trade. I was hired by Westchester Rockland Newspapers. I married Margie Lembo on December 27, 1958. Two years later, Margie gives birth to Valery, a baby girl. In 1960 we purchase our first house in Mahopac, N.Y. My commute to New Rochelle was an hour. I didn’t seem to mind it, however my wife did. Summers I’d be home at five, and waterskiing by 5:30. In the winter we would have my sister take care of Valery and we would go skiing. When Valery was two and one-half, I put her on snow skis. At three and one-half she was skiing from the top of Killington.

Valery went to The Northwood Prep School in Lake Placid and graduated in 1979. Rather than go to college in 1979, she trained with The Mountain House Academy in preparation for the ’80 Olympics. She qualified for the U.S. Nationals and the World Cup in 1979, and earned a skiing scholarship to the University of New Mexico. I decided to go back to school when Valery was in college. I changed my career and went into sales and marketing. I was promoted to Assistant Advertising Publications Manager for The Journal News. I then became an advertising sales executive. I’ve been retired five years and I love it. Valery met her husband at UNM, and they have two children, Ryan 15 and Grace 11. They live in Santa Fe, and we visit them often.