The high school gymnasium was packed with a crowd of over 2,500 strong to the point of standing-room-only. All were gathered to honor a man who produced, and his product was good citizens.
Whether in the classroom, on the track or chaperoning the annual sophomore full exposure European adventure trip, Tuck taught and lived citizenship and character, his legacy is simply an outcome of a good man doing good work that he loved doing. His mantra: “always teaching, always coaching.” My family included four of the thousands who benefited. He was needed for more than 55 years.
“The dog ate my homework” did not sell in Tuck’s class. He had tough standards, clear and challenging expectations and a coach/mentor approach to helping people learn, grow and succeed. He led high school students, but he would have succeeded using the same approach leading adults in business. His principles, referred to as ‘Tuckisms’, were his foundation:
- “Leave it better than you found it.”
- “Invest early.”
- “Respect others.”
- “Take care of the little things.”
- “Always take the opportunity to make a difference.”
- “Do the right thing,”
- And, his end of class Friday admonition: “DON’T DO ANYTHING STUPID!”
Charles “Tuck” Edward Gionet
March 9, 1960 (Cincinnati, Ohio) — August 8, 2015 (Snohomish, WA)