Memorial Services for Chuck Markulis

jay helfert

jay helfert

Shoot Pool, not people
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The services for Chuck will be held this Wednesday, July 2 at 3 PM in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA.

The location is Green Hills Mortuary at 27501 S. Western Ave. (310)831-0311.

Chuck had many close friends in Southern California from his days at Hard Times. He was a pioneer in bringing great tournaments to his pool room, and all the players always felt welcome there.

Only Terry Stonier from The Jointed Cue in Sacramento had a similar impact on pool in California. They were two of a kind, they loved pool and they loved the pool players. I know there will be a great pool room in Heaven with these two guys up there. It won't be so bad, getting to hang out with Cornbread, Richie, Jersey Red, Ervolino and Shorty once more. If we can just keep that damn Harold Worst from spoiling the party. He's been known to do that. :)
 
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RIP Chuck

Man that's a shame, I worked for Chuck and Mike for years at Varsity Billiards back in the day. They single-handedly kept the action going in Southern California for a long time before moving north. He will be missed for sure, man I can't believe he's gone.
 
I don't ever go to services-its a personal thing, however During the time of the Service I will say a prayer and do nothing but reflect about my times with him and being around what he created for all of us, if you think of it he brought a lot of us together, not that we didn't know each other but we got together at his "house" on a regular basis, I saw Mosconi because of Chuck etc. That is how he touched my life, he touched John Morton's (RIP) in other ways. He was a great man and left us all a lot of memories and a lot more.

eric P
 
I also worked for Chuck at Hard Times not too long after it first opened in 1988. It's hard to believe it's already been there for 20 years. Chuck was one of the most no-nonsense people around -- to the point that people either loved him or hated him. He ran a very tight ship and always made sure things were perfect, especially when he hosted big tournaments. I'm sure he'll be missed by all who knew him.
 
Thanks for the update on the memorial services for Chuck Markulis.

I found this article and thought it would be appropriate to insert it in this thread:

Charles "Chuck" Markulis died June 26 in Grass Valley. He was 71.

Visitation and chapel service will be held at 3 p.m., Wednesday, July 2, followed by a graveside burial at 4:30 p.m. at Green Hills Memorial Park in Rancho Palos Verdes. A celebration of life will follow at Antes Restaurant on 7th Street in San Pedro.

Mr. Markulis was born Jan. 30, 1937, in Pennsylvania to George and Terpsihori Markulis, originally from Crete, Greece. He was a fullback for San Pedro High School football and made All-City. He went on to play football for Everette Junior College in Washington where he made All-American. He then went on to work in the music business, where he produced several hit records, including "Love You So" by Ron Holden, which spent several weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Charts. He owned several restaurants in Southern California and became a Billiard Tournament Promoter at Varsity Billiards in Norwalk, Hard Times Billiards in Bellflower, Hard Times Billiards in La Habra, Hard Times Billiards in San Diego and Hard Times Billiards in Sacramento.

He was deeply loved by the many, many people he touched in the billiards world and will be greatly missed.

Mr. Markulis is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Michael and Karen Markulis of Grass Valley; granddaughters Rachel and Sarah Markulis; brothers and sisters-in-law John and Anita Markulis of Palos Verdes, Michael and Alicia Markulis of San Pedro, Nick and Nina Markulis of Costa Mesa, and Jimmy and Debra Markulis of San Pedro, and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father, George Markulis; mother, Terpsihori Markulis, and wife, Marquita Markulis.

Arrangements are under the direction of Chapel of the Angels Mortuary in Grass Valley.

http://www.theunion.com/article/20080630/OBITUARIES/754770583/1046&parentprofile=

You were loved by many and will be missed. Rest in peace. :smile:

JAM
 

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JAM said:
...He then went on to work in the music business, where he produced several hit records, including "Love You So" by Ron Holden, which spent several weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Charts....
Click to expand...

"Love You So": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDPWSaWx4Vg

Wow, I can just feel the coolness of riding around in one of those, listening to this song! :)

JAM
 
I am totally torn apart of the passing of Chuck Markulis. A while back, I heard that he got terribly injured. I grew up going into Chuck's pool rooms that he had in California.

He started off with a lady, they were partners, in a pool room off of Alondra, and then ended up in Belflower, then San Diego, then at the end, it was Sacramento, Hardtimes Billiards.

Whenever I came to town, Chuck welcomed me with open arms, and every time I would come to the tournaments, he would let me stay at his house. Not only that, he would try to hook me up with nice ladies, the kind you would want to take home to your mother. He was that kind of guy.

He will truly be missed, by me especially. I will miss going to Hardtimes on account of that. My only regret is that I didn't get back to California in time to let Chuck know how I really felt. My deepest condolences go out to his family and friends.
 
My deepest condolences

I am truly sorry Chuck got hurt.
I will miss him
Thanks
Carl
 
When I gave Chuck a "thank you" for holding such a fine tournament at Hard Times he told me "no its people like you we have to thank, the people who support them." He was this type of guy. Always made you feel welcome and needed. Ill miss him going to Sactown.
 
This is the first I have heard of Chuck's passing:( I lived with him and worked for him in Sacramento for a while. He was probably my best friend there. I am very sad right now.......
 
About 6 weeks after Chuck's accident, Ron Lilies (awesome one pocket player) and I visited Chuck at a Sacramento hospital. Mike and Karen were there and Chuck was alert - even though he had an oxygen mask and feeding tubes etc. He wasn't able to talk but he wanted to. He held hands and was able to squeeze to indicate he understood what we were saying. And he could smile!!!

Chuck would take Ron and I or Ron or just me to either breakfast or dinner - depending on the day/night and what was happening. He would never let me or Ron pay unless we absolutely insisted but even then he would almost always want to pay.

Chuck would take me to dinner sometimes with Ronnie Allen or Bucktooth when they were in town. He loved the stories! Man he loved pool and action.

Chuck kept Hardtimes in control and he used to clean up the place on his shift and talk to the players in the tournament room as he was wiping the rails etc.

We used to commensurate about San Pedro. He lived there back in the day and I used to live there in the mid 1980's. We used to talk about "BAZ 10" - a small pool room in San Pedro where lots of great players used to play. John Henderson, Ernesto Dominguez etc.

I have missed him for about a year and now he is gone!!
 
JAM said:
"Love You So": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDPWSaWx4Vg

Wow, I can just feel the coolness of riding around in one of those, listening to this song! :)

JAM
Click to expand...

When I listened to that song, I only wanted to imagine that the "clicking" was that of pool balls caroming into each other, calling me back to the table. :D

Reading the posts from others also, I am starting to get an impression of the man who affected so many pool player's lives.

May Chuck Markulis rest in peace and may his legacy live on in those he touched.

JoeyA
 
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I do not believe I ever met him but I do know a lot oif people that knew him and I also go to HT in Sac to play, at least once a month. He will be missed for sure. RIP Chuck.
 
Bump for anyone interested in Chuck's passing.

I sent a flower arrangement for the family and friends that will attend the services.
 
Working for Chuck and Mike at all of his poolrooms has been a pleasure. They never treated us like workers, much more like family. Recently, we finished working with Mike and Chuck's business at HardTimes Sacramento. The place was definitely not the same without his great smile and personality. What a great man he was to the entire Dominguez family. Rest in Peace Chuck. Oscar and Ernesto Dominguez
 
I received a call several days ago from Keith about Chuck. Have many memories of him and the room in LA - he treated me real good when I was working away from home and playing pool.
 
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Morning reminder bump for those able to attend today's services for Chuck Markulis.

JAM
 
Chuck was awesome for pool! He always gave back whether it was for tournaments or helping individuals. RIP Chuck
 
Tom Suarez introduced me to Chuck and Mike, the first time I made it out to HardTimes in Sacramento, several years ago. That first night, Chuck invited me to stay at his home, over spending money on a hotel. He was always that generous with everyone around him. I'm almost positive I saw Chuck and Mike walking down the hall, at the BCAPL national tournament, last May, in Vegas. I paused for a second, almost running back to say hello, as I had heard all about Chuck's terrible accident, and had not seen him since then. I wish now that I had. :( He will be sorely missed by all who knew him. My condolences to all his extended family and friends. I wish I could be there for the service.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
 
The funeral was yesterday. I went with Tang. The mortuary was full with Chuck's family and friends. His son Mike asked me to speak briefly, which I did. I told all his extended family how much Chuck had meant to the pool world on the West Coast. How we put on the biggest and best tournaments ever held out here. And what a good guy Chuck was to all the pool players, whether he knew them or not.

Chuck was a true Christian. He didn't talk about it, he lived it. He put a hand out to help anyone he met. If they needed a meal, he fed them. If they needed a bed to sleep, he invited them to his home. If they were short on money, he gave them a few dollars.

Chuck's son Mike continues to run Hard Times Sacramento. He is a fine young man and I'm proud to know him.
 
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