A Very Special Couple - MR. CHARLIE AND MR5. LIZ PITTMAN
by Patricia Ennis-Burke

Mr. Charlie and Mrs. Liz were a unique couple. They could befriend and endear themselves to a child just as readily as they could to adults. Their care and concern was genuine. I consider myself blessed to have grown up under their watchful eye for they certainly fulfilled their responsibility when it came to the belief, that ‘It takes a village to raise a child.“

When Mr. Charlie and Mrs. Liz planned the celebration of their fiftieth wedding anniversary in 1979, Mrs. Liz phoned and asked me if I would emcee the event. I was honoured. Much of the following that
I relate was the subject of my tribute to them at that celebration and much of it was related to me by my father, an admirer and friend of Mr. Charlie and Mrs. Liz.

At the age of 11 Charlie was left orphaned by the death of his father and became the man of the house responsible for the support of his mother and sister. At the time, his mother was receiving $12.00 quarterly as support. At her request, Charlie was placed in the care of old Mr. Bill Pomroy, Leo's and Pat's grandfather. He was permitted to sell the fish that he caught in order to support the family. Indeed, old Mr. Pomroy didn't have such a modern vessel as the Merasheen II now owned and operated by his great-grandsons Loyola and Gary. He and Charlie set out early at 1 AM in a sailing boat to reap the harvest. Working until the late hours of the night, Charlie acquired his sea legs. At the age of 19, he experienced the great August Gale while fishing off Cape St. Mary's.

At the age of 21, Charlie took Elizabeth McHugh, a girl from Fox Harbour, as his wife. They were married in 1929 by the Reverend Father Fleming in Merasheen where they settled down to the tasks of married life. No doubt, it was the choice of Merasheen that helped in making the foundation of their married life such a firm one.

Even though Mr. Charlie did not have the opportunity to receive a great academic education, it did not prevent him from playing a very active role in the business affairs of Merasheen. President of the Merasheen Co-operative Society and member of the Ophilia Credit Society, Mr. Charlie helped many residents of the community realize financial security. Mr. Charlie is to be admired for achieving independence as well as a secure livelihood for his family of five: Jim, Dick, Eugene, Betty, and Charlie. Their darling first born, Charlotte, died when still an infant.

Mr. Charlie and Mrs. Liz were ideal Catholic parents. Like everyone in Merasheen, the church was the center of their lives. Dad told me though that on one or two occasions Charlie didn't have praise of God foremost in his mind. Once during the Depression, Mr. Charlie was not in church for prayer alone although that was his intent in the first place. You see, there were a few occasions of sin even in  
Merasheen and one of them happened to be old Billy Hynes.

During the Depression, many commodities such as tobacco were unattainable. Now Charlie, like all fisherman, loved his smoke. During Mass, old Mr. Hynes, seated in front of Charlie, pulled out his handkerchief and lo and behold what should fall out but a two inch square of Jumbo! Charlie watched and waited and watched but old Mr. Hynes was unaware of his loss. Mass ended. Charlie lingered in the pew pretending to be lost in silent prayer. Old Mr. Hynes happened to be in the same devotional mode that morning. Charlie waited and waited unable to pass off the temptation. Finally old Mr. Hynes left. Charlie snatched the plug of tobacco, pocketed it, and left to have the weekly yarn with the men outside the church. During the conversation, Charlie reached into his pocket and produced the wealth to share with his friends. He proceeded to cut it but try as he might it was impossible. Finally he discovered that his precious morsel was nothing but an old piece of dried spruce rind.

Charlie was not one who always gave into temptation. Earlier in his life, his mother gave him a quarter to put into the offertory collection. ‘Just the price of a stick of tobacco," thought Charlie as he fingered the coin in his pocket.

‘By God now the priest won't be getting my money today ‘ cause I needs that tobacco worse than the church needs my quarter. I'm not givin' it and that's that.‘ The time for the collection came around.
Charlie still vowed the church would not get his money today. Soon the collection box was pushed in front of him. ‘Damn it,“ said Charlie to himself, ‘Take it and I'll do without my tobacco!‘ He threw the coin in the box. On the way home, Charlie picked up a fifty-cent piece. ‘By God,’ he said, ‘the price of two sticks!’ Charlie had been rewarded a hundredfold.

As I recall my life in Merasheen, many memories shared with the Pittmans come to mind. I guess there were not too many couples like them. In summer we were always allowed to have the stable for our doll house and in winter the top loft of the trap store was always available. Hours and hours of childhood fun on the swings and playing house were spent on their premises. I can't forget the ‘back house‘ where we spent hours in rainy weather.

To my mind, there never was a kinder or more patient woman than Mrs. Liz. How many slices of bread with sugar and milk did she share out to us children! All we had to do was tell Betty or Eugene to tell their mother they were hungry and, be it two or twelve of us, we all got our treat. I'll never forget her Sunday ice-cream. Mom would give each of us five cents to go over to Mrs. Liz's. She would give us the first ice-cream and even the second passing back our nickel each time. This would go on depending on the amount of ice-cream she had. When she figured there was just one each left, she would take the nickel and give us our last treat. I've never tasted better ice-cream than Mrs. Liz's and I know now that it was more than just the sugar she put in it that made it so sweet.  

Mrs. Liz was more than just the mother of my friends Betty and Eugene. She was a real friend. When Mr. Charlie went working in Argentia, Mrs. Liz would have me sleep with her. I still recall some advice she gave me in our talks before we went to sleep.

I guess I have Mr. Charlie and Mrs. Liz to thank in some way for my calling in life as a teacher. Even at the age of 12, they encouraged me by having me help Betty and Eugene with their studies. Many things have changed since those days. We are all grown up and have gone our separate ways. Gone are the days of living in Merasheen, but I believe our lives are much richer because of the influence of people like Mr. Charlie and Mrs. Liz Pittman. They too have gone on to their eternal reward. I know their reward is great.

Mr. Charlie died August 18, 1989.
Mrs. Liz died May 14, I995.