The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Edward Jones Financial Advisor: Elise N. Frank.
BAR HARBOR—Chuck Colbert has spent a lifetime making bands sound the best they can, ripping through his own tunes and spiraling the notes out into the world, and rushing to the rescue when people on the island have needed help because of accidents and fires and sorrow.
Chuck’s former Criterion Theatre coworker Beverley Ferne Guay says that “Chuck is one of the grooviest, most stylish, tough as nails pretty boys you'll ever meet.”
She’s right. He’s a musician, been a volunteer firefighter in Bar Harbor, but he’s also been the penultimate theater dad to everyone who entered the Criterion Theatre in Bar Harbor. Those people he took under his wing might occasionally be old enough to be his dad, but he’d father them just the same.
He’d see his friends, maybe hug them, then do a little nod as he assessed their faces and ask, “You doin’ okay?’
Right now, it’s his friends assessing him and asking that same question.
With three stage-four cancers, Chuck is fighting the battle of a lifetime. He began chemotherapy treatments last week for the cancers that have invaded his liver, lungs, and spine.
“It’s always been a pleasure to live here, and to try to help where we can,” Chuck said Sunday. “This all is happening so fast.… I’m just hanging on, blessed by the grace of a wonderful community.”
Eighteen months ago, doctors removed Chuck’s left kidney after discovering a mass there. He recovered and went back to work at the Criterion. Then, the Criterion closed this winter, letting go of its staff. Chuck started a new part-time job at the Strand in Rockland. Now, as he battles his cancer, he can’t work there.
“It’s been a painful journey thus far, recovering from the kidney removal from 18 months ago,” he said in a GoFundMe that Mary Ann Perlman set up for him and his wife, Toby.
“My earliest memory of Chuck was when he and Toby stepped up to cook for cancer survivors and their families through the Beth Wright Cancer Resource Center’s ‘Home Cooked Healing’ program,” Perlman wrote in the GoFundMe.
Each Sunday Chuck and his wife, Toby, would cook. They didn’t know who they cooked for. It didn’t matter. They’d spend chunks of their weekend—over and over again—making sure that other people had food.
That’s the thing, right?
That’s community. That’s service. That’s love.
“The additional expenses of travel, copays, meds, bills…and transportation, in addition to their mortgage, utilities and everyday expenses, is beyond what anyone should be expected to endure. I am asking you to please give what you can to ease this overwhelming burden on Toby and Chuck, as they did for the many cancer survivors they supported with their heartfelt donation of food and an abundance of love,” Perlman wrote.
This Saturday at the Trenton Grange will be Rock for Chuck, a benefit meant to help raise money for Chuck and Toby as he undergoes his treatments. Music is by Scop. Donations are $10. All the proceeds will go to Chuck.
Bar Harbor musician John Seigle wrote on social media, “Chuck Colbert is not only a great friend, but also a former bandmate. He is also one of the most peace loving, giving, and caring people I have ever met. Now, it is time to give back. Come on out and help your friend & neighbor. BYOB.”
The local rock group Scop writes and performs its own material and put its unique spin on select cover songs. Siegle provides vocals and guitars as does Al Deal. Rob Harrington plays drums, piano, guitar, and sings. Peter John Keeney provides bass and guitar.
“It’s an opportunity to revisit something inside of you and think about where you are with that [emotion] now. It’s almost like what you’d do in therapy,” Fordham University’s Thomas M. Beaudoin says about music.
Chuck has spent his whole life knowing a great number of truths. He lives kindness. He doesn’t sweat the small stuff. He protects everyone’s heart as much as he can—especially Toby and his family and friends. But the truth is that pretty much everyone is Chuck’s friend.
But one of the bigger truths is this: experiences are better for our hearts and our brains than possessions.
“I’m touched and blessed by your (everyone’s) kindness and support,” he said Sunday, hoping to be a bit less “whelmed” soon and getting stronger every day.
The concert on Saturday is another gift of experience that Chuck and Scop and others are sending out. Music, concerts? They connect us. They create a shared experience, a community. The same things that Chuck has spent most of his life creating.
“It’s all come so fast,” Chuck said. “I love you all.”
The link to the GoFundMe is here.
Follow us on Facebook. And as a reminder, you can easily view all our past stories and press releases here.
If you’d like to donate to help support us, you can, but no pressure! Just click here (about how you can give) or here (a direct link), which is the same as the button below.
If you’d like to sponsor the Bar Harbor Story, you can! Learn more here.
My husband was in a similar situation nine years and again the generosity of others kept us buoyed under the worst of circumstances. We are forever grateful. Not all funds collected from Go Fund will go to Chuck and Toby. Is there a way to send money directly or to a bank earmarked for them?
Chuck is one of the nicest folks I know, I got to work shows with him at The Criterion for 5 years and there really is no better guy or no bigger heart out there. In addition to donating to his gofundme, send all the healing vibes you can his way.