Compass Educational Consulting
Nashotah, WI

---

Charlie Bessette Will Be Missed

Charles F. Bessette, the beloved son of Judi and Fred Bessette died unexpectedly earlier this week.

Charlie was 24 years old. He was embarking on a series of student internships in therapeutic programs for teens and young adults and was successfully concluding his initial steps on the journey to become a professional in the field. He will be greatly missed by his parents, his friends, his new colleagues in the helping professions, and the many students that he helped over the past two years and especially at the end of his life.

Writing and performing his own music was Charlie's passion. He always loved listening to music. Dylan and Dave Matthews were early influences. In the last couple of years, once he discovered Internet radio with access virtually to any music ever recorded, he realized he enjoyed a wide variety of music...from the blues to the Beatles, from ragtime to reggae, from classical to country...even Ol” Blue Eyes himself, Frank Sinatra.

But even more than listening to music, he loved playing the music he had written himself. He picked up his first guitar at age 12. While he took lessons for a couple of months, he was essentially self-taught.

In the spring of 2004, he recorded his first CD, White Balloon. It is still available in CD Universe and I-Tunes. While he had the songs ready for another couple of CDs, he put those on hold and about 18 months ago, began work on a new set of songs. Charlie’s parents are hoping to make his last CD, Fire-Child, available this fall.

He often said that in his struggle with alcoholism, it was his music that held him together. He is now at peace.

Gifts in Charlie's memory can be made to the Friends of Families Foundation either through their website at www.friendsoffamilies.org, using Paypal or by mail:

Friends of Families
Attn: Brandi
PO Box 825
Lake Arrowhead, CA 92352

Brandi can also be reached at info@friendsoffamilies.org

Feel free contact Judi via e-mail or drop her a line at:
N43 W33223 Glen Parc Circle
Nashotah, WI 53058

---

We would like to extend our deepest condolences toward the Bessette Family. You are in our hearts and prayers.

---

Charlie Bessette was both full or life and bigger than life! His energy and enthusiasm poured over the brim of every life experience he encountered. No single experience could contain or define him completely.

He wanted to ski, play music, learn new things every day, strive to be a better person constantly, and most importantly- to save others, himself and the world from despair and suffering, If any single thing could define him- it was his passion for life.

Charlie was a hot flame in a lukewarm world. He will be missed terribly by his students, his friends and his professional colleagues!

For those who have worked with Judi Bessette and her son Charlie,

Charlie passed away unexpectedly. He was 24 years old and overall was doing some great things in his life. For the past couple of years he has been working as an intern helping young adults transition from treatment into independence.

For the past year, I have received a monthly phone call from Charlie seeking resources and help for the students that he cared so deeply for. As he entered his career, Charlie typically would call me with his professional voice seeking advice on possible job placements for his students, if I knew anyone who could help with a college admission for another student or if Aspiro was hiring new guides. Typically our phone call would shift to me asking how Charlie was and what he was doing in his personal life. He always shared proudly his innovative ideas for future entrepreneurial businesses, and how much he loved the students he was working with. He always wanted to "Make me proud" of what he was accomplishing in his professional career. At the end of each phone call, Charlie would thank me in a very professional way for my personal time to help him find resources for the students in his care. There was something about the way he would always thank me that showed genuine respect and left me with a smile. Charlie loved writing and performing his own music, the outdoors, and people.

I remember one day, Charlie wanted a "back country" skiing experience so I sent him up with Brandon and Daryn near Sundance Ski Resort. Charlie said the hike up was the hardest thing he had ever done in his life but the ride down made it all worth while! Charlie referenced that ski day over and over in our phone calls. He maintained a deep friendship with both Daryn and Brandon from that day forward. He always expressed his genuine love from the heart for the students he was working with. Without a doubt, Charlie was a man of love for others and would give the shirt off of his back to help someone.

Charlie, you are missed. My thoughts and prayers go out to Judi, her husband Fred and her family at this time.