Neftali Aponte    on Wednesday 08/14/2024 at 03:29 PM

Few people can claim the privilege of having met or known a man like Charlie during their lifetime. Even fewer had the chance to work closely with him. The world has lost an extraordinary individual – a man of integrity, determination, leadership, generosity, and much more. For me, the loss is personal. I didn’t just lose my ‘jefe,’ as I called him; I lost a best friend, a second father, and a mentor. Charlie leaves behind a strong legacy that we at SIMI will strive to uphold every single day. I won’t let my friend down. My heart is broken.

Jen Conlon   on Wednesday 08/14/2024 at 04:02 PM

I am deeply heartbroken by Charlie’s passing. For the past 20 years, I had the privilege of working closely with Charlie. He wasn’t just a colleague; he was a valued mentor, a dear friend, and family in every sense of the word.

Charlie's kindness, leadership, and guidance have left a lasting impact on me and so many others. He played a significant role in shaping my career, and for that, I will always be grateful.

This loss is not only professional, but immensely personal. Charlie, you will be profoundly missed, but your legacy of excellence and integrity will continue to live on through all of us who had the honor of knowing you.

“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” - John Quincy Adams

Mike Gong   on Wednesday 08/14/2024 at 04:47 PM

Many stories and memories will be shared about Charlie because most people had great moments to share, smile, laugh and maybe share a meal or drink with him. Charlie’s voice and laugh are one of his most unique traits and you always knew when he was talking because you would be listening. He had great advice to give, thoughtful comments and never made anyone feel like they were below him. Charlie was the straightest shooter that you would ever know and was truly a working class leader. But more than just the memories we had in our business relationship were some moments we shared talking about family life and how much he loved spending time with his wife, children and grandchildren. I will miss Charlie and our conversations. Hopefully anyone that ever met Charlie was lucky enough to have a conversation with him too. You would always remember it. Rest easy Charlie. Your legacy will live on!

Erica Shatzer   on Wednesday 08/14/2024 at 09:39 PM

Charlie was a longtime member of the former advisory board for Self-Storage Now, MSM's quarterly magazine. As the editor, he was someone I could always count on for insights about self-storage management and marketing. Over the past 15+ years, I interviewed him for various articles and always loved our chats. He always made time to talk with me and he'd be prepared with a valuable angle that I may not have considered. Beyond storage, it was clear that he was family man at heart. I loved hearing him talk with fondness about his grandkids and always appreciated his words of encouragement about parenthood. I will miss Charlie!

Nathan Arnone   on Monday 09/16/2024 at 06:12 PM

I first met Charlie at a restaurant in Williamsville, NY in the late
1990s. We were introduced by a mutual friend who set up our meeting to discuss graphic design work for SIMI and Planet Self Storage. Thus began nearly 20 years of freelance work for me. Charlie (and everyone I ever worked with at SIMI) was great to me, and I was always happy to hear from him and his team.

I was pleasantly surprised to see a box delivered from Mr and Mrs Fritts containing a gift for my newborn son. That’s one example of his character and something I won’t forget.

My heart goes out to the Fritts family and everyone at SIMI.

Ed Patterson   on Tuesday 09/17/2024 at 09:08 AM

Charlie was my mentor and friend in self-storage. Without Courtney Kahler's kind introduction in 2019, I wouldn't be on my self-storage professional journey today. He was ALWAYS there and had an infectious soft laugh. His wisdom helped pave the way for so many. His joy to see others excel was his heart's gift. I'm saddened and humbled to have known him within and outside of NeSSA. His spirit-light will carry us forward.

Jeffrey Wood   on Wednesday 09/25/2024 at 01:24 PM

I have waited to comment here because there is so much I want to say, but it is not unique enough to say it all. It has only been four or five years since we met Charlie. We were still researching Storage and not sure if we would even enter the industry. We were driving from facility to facility asking owners and operators what we don't know about storage. We told them that we had read the books and listened to the podcasts, but there is a ton we could not possibly know that you can only learn from experience. A young lady managing a facility in the middle of nowhere said her boss who runs SIMI would probably be happy to chat with us. I passed along my information. When I walked out I googled SIMI, saw how successful they were, and we moved to the next facility thinking that this young lady has no idea how busy her boss is and how unimportant we were. When that phone rang the very next morning I was stunned, and immediately felt like a rock star. Charlie did that...he made everyone feel very important. He said things like "the industry needs people with your drive" and encouraged us to keep learning and growing. He had no reason to pay us any mind at all...no reason to answer any of our questions (maybe the first two or three to be polite...but certainly not the next few dozen). If there were a group of nobody's, we would be a nobody in THAT group. Yet, he took the time to talk to us as if we were peers...to make us feel important, heard, and understood. He answered questions with more information than we could hurriedly jot down on whatever paper was near us. He recommended other sources at first, and then groups, and eventually properties or vendors when our issues were complex enough. It is not a stretch or an exaggeration to say that we would not be in the industry at all without having met Charlie.

Charlie was respectful and kind...but more than that he was empowering and encouraging. He was a teacher and a father figure...but not in a lecturing sort of way, more in the "lead you to discover your own adventure" sort of way. He was hands off, while being supportive. He was always there, without being overpowering. There are no words I can find that capture exactly what he was well, but what he was to me, I hope that I can be to some young group of adults trying to break into this industry or chase other dreams...because although we may not have the exact words, we all know the exact feeling Charlie always left us with.