A.K. Smiley Public Library welcomes Redlands native Charles Hargrove on Saturday, January 25 at 11am in the Assembly Room. Hargrove’s presentation, “Put Me Off at Redlands,” named after the eponymous 1915 tune, will share stories from life and his experience as a memoirist. Copies of his memoir, Touching Gently, will be available for purchase on the day of the program.
Beginning with his childhood in Redlands during the Great Depression, Hargrove will paint vivid, moving portraits of the people who influenced his life: his wise father, his strong and loving mother, and his talented Uncle Jack. His personal story conveys a larger picture of the time and place, and the culture, from which he sprang.
Touching Gently, A Memoir tells of Hargrove’s coming of age, his delight in becoming an Eagle Scout, his relationship, and obsession, with the game of golf, and the hardships of life on a destroyer during the Korean War. He writes most lovingly of his wife, Joan Von Euer, sharing their story from their youthful courtship to her heartbreaking death from Alzheimer’s. Hargrove writes plainly and truthfully of life’s twists and turns, paths considered but not taken, the precious victories and bitter losses, the pain and dark places, and the simple but exquisite joy of being human.
This program is free and open to the public. If you have any questions, please contact the Heritage Room at (909)798-7632. Program subject to change.
About the Speaker…
Charles Ivan Hargrove was born in Redlands. He earned a BA Degree from California State University, Northridge and enrolled at the University of Washington in a program to study Trust Administration. He later graduated from Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program.
Professionally, Charles worked most of his career for Bank of America, from which he retired as a Vice President and Regional Trust Officer in Southern California. Following his retirement from the bank, Charles became a successful entrepreneur, forming his own fiduciary business.
Charles served in the US Navy during the Korean War. Later, he pursued acting on stage and film. He was on the Board of the Otis Art Institute, on the Investment Committee for the Los Angeles County Children’s Hospital, and on the Finance Committee for Descanso Gardens, in La Canada.
Charles loved golf from the age of seventeen; many years later he became a five-handicap player and the Oakmont Country Club champion. At a young age he met, then married, the love of his life, Joan von Euer.
From such plentiful source material, and eagerly encouraged by family and friends, he wrote the book, Touching Gently, A Memoir.
Charles currently lives in Pasadena, California, with his wife, Andrea, and their toy French poodle, Sophie. He continues to live a full life.