Our ALF community lost a gentle giant this year, with the passing of Chuck Geschke in April. When I saw that the co-founder of Adobe was going to be in my class, ALF’s best ever Class X, I was humbled, a sentiment I’ve had many times looking at the Senior Fellows roster. I was 33, and Chuck was 58 when we first met. Though I have since heard over two hundred 7 minute talks, I can remember most of the highlights from Chuck’s. A natural storyteller, he held up his hand and powered through five well-organized, poignant remembrances that invited those of us that did not share his digerati fame to experience an instant connection.
What stands out from his talk are the two things I would learn that grounded Chuck: his faith and his family. He spoke of his parents, the Catholic faith we share, his Jesuit education, and his love for his family.
On the trail to rock climbing behind Gold Lake, we ended up paired on the walk. I think I brought up something related to current events, or really, God knows what. But whatever it was, Chuck had something else in mind. “We have to talk about what is the most important thing in your life, Ann,” I recall him saying. At the moment, I’m sure I thought that was how I was going to belay down a rock without making a fool out of myself, but I didn’t say that. When I asked what he meant, he said, “You just got engaged. We have to talk about marriage.” And we did.
“I might show up thinking I was going to get some free professional advice, but Chuck consistently doled out his pearls on being a great human.”
Like many of the most effective leaders, Chuck gently highlighted the key elements to a happy marriage without running down his list of ideas but by asking me questions. Did I know Bill’s hopes and dreams? Had we spent enough time with each other’s families? Stuff like that.
He spoke effortlessly about his love for Nan and their three children and about how they built their life together. I am sure many people would use such a walk with Chuck to get his thoughts on the software market, innovation, and all things Silicon Valley. But Chuck wanted to talk about people and love. Fundamental things, like how being on time shows respect for the person you are meeting, a perspective he and his buddy, Angel Rios, shared. Theirs was one of those magical ALF matching-hat pairings that happened over and over again, year after year, well before Hogwarts introduced matching hats.
Over time, during Class X check-ins, opportunities to catch up, breakfast at the coffee shop in Los Altos, the script never changed much. I might show up thinking I was going to get some free professional advice, but Chuck consistently doled out his pearls on being a great human. At some point, I penned an op-ed for the Mercury News about the best of what I learned from the humblest, most effective ALF Senior Fellows I have been blessed to know. I had a few people in mind as I wrote that piece. And I’m sure by now you know that one of them was Chuck.
Chuck and his business partner changed an industry that he and I both loved, printing and information. He transformed how we work, making it easier. He brought that same ease to showing me how a gracious, loving servant-leader lives his life. And every one of us privileged to know him has that gift now forever.
Ann Skeet, ALF Class X
