Page 15 - Boca ViewPointe - November '19

November 2019 Viewpointe, Page 15
Meet Your Neighbor: Charles Pugatch

By Mort Mazor Charlie graduated East and Florida real estate properties. In 1980 he was number one
Side H. S. in Paterson and in sales at the realty agency he represented.
When you spot Charlie at a table of 6 or 8 in our dining earned a B.S. at New York For many years Charlie and wife Shirley had homes in
room everyone’s smiling. When Charlie sees a friend in University where he met Highland, N. C. and Dillard, GA.
the lobby, they’re both smiling. When Charlie walks by his wife to be, Shirley. “I worked hard at retailing and real estate to be successful,” he
someone he hasn’t met, he smiles at them and offers a They have been married 68 said. “I served as president of the Paterson Main Street Merchants
warm “Hello.” years. Originally planning Association for 6 years—re-elected five times; vice president
“That’s the way I’ve been all my life,” said 92 year old to study dentistry, after of Fair Lawn, N. J. B’Nai Brith, and president of B’Nai Brith
Pugatch. “I love people, and make new friends wherever returning from two years’ Bowling League.”
I am.” service in the Army during “Providing for Shirley and our two sons, Rick and Chad and
Born in Brooklyn, the family moved to Fair Lawn, N. J. the World War II, he became a shoe retailer and real estate daughter Beth became my driving force. We now have seven
His mother was the strongest influence in his life instilling in broker. grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.”
him a resilient work ethic and the importance of a close-knit His outgoing, friendly personality and drive made him Rick is in the construction business, Chad an attorney. Both
family. successful in both enterprises. He became involved in Paterson reside in Palm Beach County.
Daughter Beth was an officer on the Oakland Park, FL, police
force in her early years and earned awards for arresting drunk
My Early Life drivers. She left the force to work for brother Chad’s law firm for
20 years, and is now a volunteer EMT for the Scacy Mountain
and Sky Valley Fire Departments in Rocky Knob, N. C. She also
By Jack Kulick schooling in 5A at P.S. 53, from which I graduated at the does interviews and photos for the monthly Laurel Magazine in
tender age of 16-1/2 in June 1941. Rabun County where she lives and has the acreage to care for
Writing has always During my early years, I played in almost every the animals she loves.
been part of my life. sport. I had a best friend, Henry DeSalvo. We were both In his young adult years Charlie was an active bowler and
Almost everything I involved with religion. He attended church on Sunday basketball player. He enjoys being around people who have a
wrote pertained to older and I attended Synagogue on Saturday. We loved stickball friendly attitude, and have a sense of humor.
people. Today, I am so much that he gave up going to church on Sunday in “Attitude is most important in life,” he says.
going to write about my order to play ball. Needless to say, I gave up going to He loves to dance to the live music provided every week at
childhood. Synagogue on Saturday in order to play ball. Playing our Friday afternoon ‘Happy Hour.’
I had a wonderful stickball absorbed most of our day. We played until it got Charlie is the friendliest person around here. You can’t
childhood. I was brought dark. miss him. He’s the chap who’s always flashing a warm smile at
up in the Bronx, N.Y. I Ah, those were the days. everyone.
attended P.S. 88 on Raney Place. This school only went
up to class, what was called then 4B. I continued by Jack Kulick, former Cortina resident.  Mort Mazor and his wife Lucille were West Delray residents
for 27 years prior to relocating to Stratford Court, Boca Raton,
Oct. 7, 2014. They celebrated their 74th wedding anniversary
March 20, 2019.
Attention Dog Owners Since 2008 he has written over 500 articles for the weekly
sections of the Sun-Sentinel. Current topics cover senior’s
It is your responsibility to pick up after your dog. It’s the law. outstanding achievements, wellness, and finance.
Some of you have been negligent in doing so. He retired in 2018 from teaching a weekly course in Creative
Please keep our Boca Pointe Community beautiful! Writing began in 2002. The course continues at Weisman
Community Center, West Atlantic Ave. Delray Beach every
Monday, 1 to 3:00 pm. 