I remember Charlie as the boy with the wild hair, sense of humor and infectious laugh. I remember he would throw his head back and open his mouth wide in laughter to almost mock me and Kittie Kat (yes…Kittie Kat) as we were celebrating another Justin Timberlake birthday or running around dressed as fairies from Shakespeare.

But most of all I remember his heart. I didn’t know it then, because Katie and I were young and I didn’t have the emotional intelligence to identify it at the time, but as I grew older, I quickly realized that Charlie was a gentle soul.

I spent much of my summer vacations with Katie and Charlie always came along. He always kind of reminded me of the boy in Jurassic Park. Curious with lots of questions but tons of knowledge. I watched him grow up from that young kid in his oversized shirt to a young man with a passion for music.

In high school, after Katie and I got cars, we didn’t have Charlie around as much. I will never forget going over to her house one year and seeing him for the first time in months – he TOWERED over me. He was at least a head shorter than me the last time I saw him. My mind was blown. Above all, I remember how much he meant to Katie. Their bond was tight. Tighter than any I had ever seen. They truly loved one another. Linda and Chuck did an amazing job of creating that bond, that trust between a brother and sister. They were a team always and forever.