Charles H. Pryde

On the chilly Saturday morning of Saturday, April 2, 2016, while snowflakes drifted by their bedroom window, Charles Harvey Pryde passed quietly away with his wife of 61 years by his side. If the metrics of a life well lived includes the love of family and the prevalence and quality of lifelong friendships, than Chuck's was indeed exceptional.

He was born 10/14/29 in Detroit to Thomas and Catherine Pryde, graduated from Berkley High, where he lettered in both baseball and football. He then attended Wayne State University, graduating with a B.S. in Education and as a member of Phi Mu Alpha. By this time he had fallen deeply in love with Suzanne Gannon. They married on 10/24/54 and would eventually have six children together (five boys and one girl).

Chuck started his own business, The Pryde Insurance Agency. He played touch football with HNOPL (the High Noon Old Pro League- old friends from younger days), and handball, joining the Michigan Handball Association. He took his family skiing, spending nearly every winter weekend at the Kandahar Ski Club in Fenton where he joined the Ski Patrol and eventually became Patrol Director. There was tennis, often with a cherished group of friends known amongst themselves as the Potluck Group. There were trips up north, Elk Rapids and Torch Lake, whatever the season. There were peace marches.

Chuck retired and sold the business, and he and Sue relocated to Elk Rapids, a beautiful home overlooking East Bay. He played guitar at the Elk Rapids Public Library Preschool Story Time while Sue read to the kids. He made new friends. He played tuba in the Northwestern College Community Band.

But these basic facts barely hint at the man he was. The strength and dexterity and most importantly, pure enjoyment he displayed in sports. The way he taught us all to play. "The family that skis together stays together," he'd say. The integrity and honesty he conducted his life with. His humanity and compassion for fellow man, rooting for the underdog, reaching out to those in need. His simple generosity, his doors always open to anyone his children might bring home, anyone that might need some food and company.

Or his evening martini, gin and olives on the rocks, always with Sue and welcome to anyone else that might care to partake, outside if weather at all permitted, for conversation and laughter, and always acknowledging the beauty around.

Or the Prat (the Pryde Ride Around Torch), the October bike ride around Torch Lake that has occurred annually since 1991 that he came up with to signify his own birthday but really as an excuse for being outside with, yes you guessed it, family and friends. Rain or shine (and it was often rain) we were out there with him, even when in recent years he couldn't actually ride, out by those cold, lovely waters, always getting in the spirit of his event, always ending with a party at Chuck and Sue's house (and we will still, and forever, call it that) enjoying the very best of each other.

Or the piano. Always the piano. His great love for that instrument. His outlet. Writing originals that we all now clasp a little closer to our hearts. His songs. Leading us all, voices raised joyfully. At Holidays, or any celebration, gathering around him and his beloved piano. Whether it was family, or the Potluck Group, or the conclusion of a Prat, or maybe just the sun sinking beyond the bay, he played and we loved him for it.

Truth be told, getting old didn't always set well with Chuck, and the frailty of recent months was downright irritating to him, so we can be thankful for the peace he has once more arrived at even as we miss him dearly. We will look at his empty piano stool, the silence gathered around it, with both heavy hearts and deeply thankful for all our memories of the man.

Chuck was preceded in death by his parents and sister Martha. He is survived by wife Sue, children Charlie (Clare) Pryde, Peter (Suzanne) Pryde, Mike, Marcy (Kerry) Tucker, Scott (Beth) Pryde, Ted (Christy) Pryde; and grandchildren Jack, Ben, Nick, Jake, Emma, Andrew, Justin, Shaun, Sasha, Janna (Mark), Molly, Sara, Jonas, Kyla, Devin, and Maggie.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Doctor's Without Borders or any charity of your choice. Or reach out to someone you know in need.

A gathering at Chuck and Sue's home in Elk Rapids from 3:30-7:30 p.m., with a celebration of his life at 4:00 on Saturday, July 2nd, 2016, was held. Food and drinks and warm reminiscences to follow.