THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, November 4, 1994 TAG: 9411020141
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 1B EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Pam Starr
LENGTH: Long : 120 lines
James P. Charlton was a doctor who would not only treat a patient in need for free, but give money for a taxi ride home, too.
As the director of the First Colonial Family Practice, Charlton was much loved by his staff and patients for his compassion, sense of humor and easy-going ways. ``Eat dessert first'' was his motto, because life is too short.
The Virginia Beach Volunteer Rescue Squad perhaps benefited the most from the good doctor. Back in the 1960s, Charlton and Dr. Andrew Dickinson taught cardiopulmonary resuscitation to rescue squad personnel. In 1972, the doctors created and taught the first classes in advanced life support training in coronary care. The emergency coronary care program doubled the amount of lives saved.
Charlton died on July 7 of prostate cancer, at the age of 65. But the physicians and staff of First Colonial Family Practice, as well as members of Rescue Squad 14, want his spirit of good will and compassion to endure. They are holding an autumn fair and softball game Nov. 12, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at First Colonial High School to benefit Rescue Squad 14's building fund.
The squad is going to replace its deteriorating building at 20th Street and Arctic Avenue, in service since the early 1960s, with a new one between Cypress and Washington. The training auditorium in the new building will be aptly named ``The James P. Charlton Memorial Hall.'' It is expected to cost $200,000. The entire 17,000-square-foot building, plus an endowment, will cost about $2 million, said capital campaign chairman Peter Agelasto.
The rescue squad is naming the hall after Charlton because, Agelasto added, the rescue squads ``were his.''
``His counsel and support were available whenever they were needed,'' Agelasto said. ``He created enthusiasm among the younger doctors to be on our advisory boards.''
Dana F. Congdon, administrator of First Colonial Family Practice, hopes that The Home Run Happening, as it's called, will raise $5,000. The softball game will be played by a team of physicians against a team from Rescue Squad 14 and the event will include a silent auction, games, a doctors' dunking booth, a raffle, bake sale and concessions.
``The main reason we're doing this is public awareness for the rescue squad,'' said Congdon. ``We want Dr. Charlton's memory to live on - he was just an incredible person. He touched the lives of everyone around him. You were a better person for knowing him.''
Son Jeff Charlton is a doctor at the family practice and he said his father was ``extremely dedicated'' to his field and lived life to the fullest. And when people remember him, said Jeff, it's usually with a smile and not a tear.
``Before he died, he told me that he wanted everyone to sit around after his funeral and talk about what a great guy he was,'' Jeff said, chuckling. ``I'm sure he's smiling down at this fund-raiser.''
If you would like to donate any new items for the silent auction or help out in any other way, call Dana Congdon at 481-2333.
I have no natural talent for navigation and my husband hates to ask directions when we drive. We like to take long rides on the weekend, however, and we both enjoy solving riddles. So what could be better than participating in a Country Roads Road Rally tomorrow through Pungo? Children's Resources has put together a nifty road rally in which drivers and passengers will have to solve clues at different places in order to reach the final destination (somewhere in the Pungo area).
Sure, Doug and I may find ourselves at an abandoned barn in Smithfield, screaming at each other, but we believe in quality together time for couples. Children's Resources executive director Deidre Casey said that last year one man and his three children ended up in North Carolina but ``still had a good time.''
Besides, it's for a worthwhile cause. The money raised goes to seven group homes in Hampton Roads which house teenagers taken out of the court system, according to Casey.
``We're working toward capital improvements - two of the homes need air conditioning and repairs,'' she said. ``Our goal at Children's Resources is to get the teens back into their regular homes, depending on the situation.''
There's still time to enter the road rally, which will leave from the Juvenile and Domestic Court Parking Lot, 301 Albemarle Drive in Chesapeake (off Cedar Road) at noon. Number assignments start at 11 a.m. The cost is $20 per vehicle/driver and $5 for each additional passenger. Casey suggested packing a cooler with lunch and refreshments since the road rally is expected to take a couple of hours.
Winners will be determined by the number of questions they answer correctly, said Casey. The tiebreaker will be the right number of miles.
Just be sure to have your tank gassed up!
GETTING A FLU SHOT WILL NOT GIVE you the flu.
Dr. Anthony Russo, medical director of Sentara Medical Care Centers, wants to dispel the myths about flu shots that surface every year. Some people insist that the shot will give you the flu, just like a full moon brings out strange behavior. It's not possible to get the flu from the shot, said Russo, because the vaccination uses a ``killed version'' of the virus.
``Some people do experience a few side effects, such as soreness or redness and swelling at the site of the shot,'' he said. ``And some will get a fever or achiness. The vaccination fools the body into developing antibodies against the virus.
``Even if you were given a live virus it would take weeks to get the flu,'' he said.
This year, identified flu strains include the Texas, Panama and Shangdong (from China) viruses. Russo suggested that people at risk for the flu receive a vaccination ``definitely before Christmas,'' since it takes a couple of weeks to a month to develop good antibodies.
Your family practice physician should be able to give you a flu shot. Or, said Russo, Sentara Medical Care Centers are offering flu shots for $9. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by D. KEVIN ELLIOTT
Dana Congdon, administrator for First Colonial Family Practice; Dr.
Beau Killen, Dr. Jeff Charlton and Donald Peccia are helping
organize a fair Nov. 12 in memory of former head physician Dr. James
Charlton, to raise funds for a new building for the Virginia Beach
Volunteer Rescue Squad.
Staff file photo by CHRISTOPHER REDDICK
Dr. James Charlton, left, and Dr. Andrew Dickinson taught
cardiopulmonary resuscitation to rescue squad personnel.
by CNB