I met Dr. Charles Wrege  while I was attending Rutgers University.   He was my most favorite professor.   We did a lot of interesting work together.   I enjoyed working with him so much.   Every student thought the world of him.    Chuck’s classes were always a delight to attend.

Before I knew it, I was graduating June of 1977.  Well Dr. Wrege kept asking me what I was doing graduation night?    I told him my family would be coming to visit from outside of Pittsburgh and we were planning to go out to dinner after the graduation ceremony.   I heard other students inviting him to parties yet for some reason he kept asking me what I was doing.  Finally I said,  “would you want to join my family and me for dinner” never thinking he would say yes.   I heard other students inviting  him to parties so I thought he would want to go to a party.

Within minutes of him accepting he asked if I would mind inviting his wife Bea.  I called her and she refused - apparently she did not like a lot of fuss.   I told him she said she appreciated the invite but would not be able to join us. Believe it or not, you know Chuck and his persistence.   He goes Anne Marie please call her again.   If I recall I think I called her three to five times before she agreed.   Chuck got this big smile when she finally agreed.     Bea said as long as Chuck would pick her up after the graduation ceremony she would join us all for dinner.  What a fun evening!   Bea and Chuck seemed to have a wonderful time and really took a liking to my family.   I must admit they are special.

That evening we all seemed to bond.   I made many visits down to visit them over the years.   We had many lunches and dinners, went to the beach, came back and had drinks on their back porch.    Bea and Chuck had a special bond.   He loved her so much.   After she passed he  showed me all the love letters he wrote her.   The drawings and envelopes were just beautiful.   They were so emotional tears would come to my eyes. I was so happy when he completed his book   “A Romance in Watercolor”

The letters and artwork were all done by him so you may want to look up the book.  

Our friendship continued.   In fact, I took him out to the “Black Trumpet”  in Spring Lake for his 90th Birthday.   I feel bad I did not take a picture of us.   He was so happy that day.   You know Chuck and his projects.   He honestly thought he would complete the book he was working on. 

I will remember him forever.   Chuck had such a big heart and soul.  

Anne Marie Stotka