This month the beam of our ‘Spotlight’ shines down on CHARLES SPARROCK. Chuck was born in Brooklyn, New York on March 1, 1940. He is, as many Retired Guardians, a graduate of Boys High School in Brooklyn. He also attended New York Community College and New York Technical College.

From 1959 to 1965 Chuck worked at the Brooklyn Navy Yard serving an apprenticeship. He reminisces that one of his most memorable accomplishments at ‘the yard’ was assisting in the building of the aircraft carrier USS Constellation.

Chuck became a member of The New York City Transit Police Department in June 1965 during which time he worked in Districts # 32, # 22 and # 33. He was an expert shooter at the pistol range but fortunately for the ‘bad guys’, he was never required to demonstrate his marksmanship while on patrol. Chuck opted for a vested retirement in 1980.

When asked about his life’s accomplishments, Chuck was quick to point to the acquisition of his pilot’s license, a feat of which he is particularly proud. Chuck and his wife of nineteen years, Eleanor, reside in a 600 unit complex in Adventura, Florida, where he has been a member of the Board for the past six years. Also, he is a member of the Board of the oldest standing building in North and South America, a Spanish monastery which was originally built in 1133 in Segovia, Spain, and is now located in North Miami, Florida. Both Chuck and Ellie are tennis buffs and can be found on the tennis courts practically every day.

Chuck has two sons and five grandchildren. His oldest son is a career U.S. Navy officer, a Commander, soon to become the Captain of a frigate. Chuck can be via e-mail at cesparrock@aol.com