Mike Day
I have been thinking about Varick and the Cutler family since we were all together at the funeral service in Ashburn, VA.
I met Varick at LCS in 1976 so that is 40 years ago. Certainly a long friendship by most standards.
However true friendship is not measured in years. That just means you are old friends.
He was certainly that to me but also a lot more. He was a True friend and a Best friend.
True friendship and Best friendship are measured in shared experiences. We had so many.
True friendship is caring about each other and each other’s families.
It is common bonds and shared interests.
I love you all. Catherine, you and Varick have been a significant part of my life. I will really miss him.
Not only were we both in the Army, we were both stationed in Alaska and at the same military base; Ft. Richardson. A few years apart, but we had memories of a lot of the same things; especially the trains.
I will remember attending all of those Maryland Terp’s football and basketball games with him.
I will remember all the Baltimore Oriole games we went to together. Do you remember being there when Ripken was just about at his record setting streak game and the banners hanging on the warehouse?
I will remember all his stupid but funny limericks that he could spout out about anything at any time.
“There’s the Highland Dutch, The Lowland Dutch, The Rotterdam Dutch and…..” you know the rest.
I will remember CDHS Associates and the “real estate empire” we had created. Thank God for Varick’s attention to details and ability to manage and keep our books/taxes. He kept The D the H and the S straight.
I will remember the LCS trips we made. Something always happened. One of many memorable events was when Hugh Berry pushed Varick in the pool. Varick was splashing around and terrified because he did not swim. I dragged him to the edge of the pool, where he thanked me for “saving his life”. I then reminded him he was standing there and the water was only 4 foot deep. We always had a good laugh over that one. (Don’t ask how we came to be in the pool in the first place)
I remember him having chest pains at the office one day. I convinced him to get in my car and took him to the hospital. Thank God. He did have a heart issue.
I remember, as I mentioned at the service, he would get upset at work. He would be stubborn, announce he had quit and then proceed to go home. I would give him an hour or so, go to the house and convince him to return which thankfully he always did. We couldn’t work there without him…
I remember that one of his most famous quotes was when he was asked at an LCS User Meeting how many weeks of vacation he got each year. He said he got 8 weeks: his 4 weeks plus the 4 weeks the General Manager was away on vacation.
I remember our monthly poker games. They went on for over20 years. He would always introduce new games. They were always fun and ended up being a part of the standard games we played on poker night. He was the sheriff. He would let you know when it was your turn to bet, that you could not check and then raise, and all the other things that needed attention.
I remember that at all of our get together’s we would find a way to start singing “Happy Birthday to Catherine”. No matter when or where or any connection to Catherine’s real birthday.
Varick was so proud of the kids and the Grandkids, Great Grandkids, Nieces, Nephews, and really was a model for what family was all about.
Your family has been a significant part of my life. I will miss Varick.
Love you and all my best to you Catherine and the Cutler family.
Mike Day
