(Matt, Jackson, and Charles Wysocki)

Charles Wysocki  1928-2002
Artist - Husband - Father - Grandfather - Friend
 

It is my very sad duty to report that my father passed away last night 7/29/02 at 10:00pm.  After a very long battle with a multitude of health problems he is finally at peace.  He was 73, and it was his 42 wedding anniversary to my mother.  During his final hours he was surrounded by all of his loving family.  All of his kids and their spouses were there at his bedside, as well as my Aunt Millie.  We as a family are devastated at his passing, and had tried to prepare for it.  Believe me, all the preparation in the world can't really help when you are actually going through the pain of loss.  My father lived his life the way he wanted.  He always considered himself such a lucky person.  He got to get up each morning and do what he loved to do, paint.  Over these past few years he  told me several times "If I die today, I would be a happy man.  I got to do what I wanted for a living, and got paid very well for it, I have three great children, a wonderful wife, and two beautiful grandchildren."  He was a very satisfied man.  He was a loving father to me, and a great grandfather to Emily and Jackson.  He loved watching Jackson swim with me in their pool at their desert house.  He was lucky enough to know Emily for the first five years of her life.  They made an impression on each other in a big way.  Dad loved Emily so much.  They had so much fun at his art board when she visited that my mom had to pull her away so dad could work.  He made up crazy stories for her, they played funny games with paint brushes and paint canisters.  Every time we came to visit, Emily ran straight to dad's studio as soon as my mom opened the door.  Many times when we would come to pick Emily up, she would have clothes covered in paint.  When Emily last saw dad, they held hands for about 20 minutes, and my father said "I love you Emily" several times, then he said "So long Emily, I love you."  That was a very special, sad, and difficult  moment.  My family and I wish to thank everyone out there for their prayers, kind words, and support.  It touched my heart to know that my father impacted so many lives in a positive way.  We should all be so lucky.

Dad loved meeting people at his shows.  Although during his last few shows he was a little self conscious due to his bad hearing, he always liked to meet and talk with his fans.  It was the only time that he received direct feedback from people.  Of course I always told him that people loved his artwork, and that people were always telling me how his art inspired them in one way or another, but it is different to hear it for oneself, and at the shows, dad did hear it, and it really meant a lot to him.  We will miss our open houses with Charles, but we have great memories.  Our customers, some of which have become great friends over the years, are the best group of people I could ever hope to come into contact with.  Our customers make coming to work each day a real joy.  Thank you all so much for filling our lives with joy.

Dad was working on a summer clam bake as his last painting, it is only half way done.  It is very hard to imagine that it will never be finished.  "Moonlight and Roses in Olde Maine" will be considered his last completed painting, the prints and canvas transfers will never be hand signed by him (they are hand signed and numbered by my mother Elizabeth Wysocki).  This piece really challenged him.  He was always complaining that something was not right about it, and he changed it several times before completing it.  It was finally released as a limited edition lithograph and framed canvas transfer in 2004.  Dad had an amazing career.  He must have painted close to 1000 paintings in his lifetime.  His work will continue to inspire others, and there are many more Wysocki products to be made.  Dad always wanted us to carry on his work, and we will.  It will be hard knowing that he will not be here in person to continue his artwork, but our family will do our best to carry on his legacy.  The Charles Wysocki Gallery will go on, that is for sure.  I am so grateful that my father trusted me to portray, and represent his work at his gallery.  I  hope that I have done a good job.   Lisa, Lisa's mother Becky, Charles' daughter Millie, and I are honored and proud to have worked with my father at the gallery for the past nine years.  He made our lives better in every way.  We hope to spread the wonderful world of Charles Wysocki for years to come, dad would have wanted it that way.

Thank you everyone again for your kind words, and support.  It is truly, truly appreciated. 

God Bless,

Matt Wysocki