Memorial services for Chuck Northup, formerly of Nationwide Insurance and president of the Insurance Conference Planners Association in 1992, were held April 16 in Worthington, Ohio. He passed away after a long and courageous battle with cancer.
Chuck unselfishly contributed his full energies and talents during his years on the ICPA board, especially his year as ICPA President. Because of his love for ICPA, Chuck made attending the annual meeting last November at Westin Mission Hills a top priority. He did so even though he was in a very weakened condition. His presence showed real guts, true courage, and determination.
Chuck was closely involved in a number of major developments with ICPA, including the official formation of the Hospitality Partner Committee and its annual meeting registration changeover to our headquarters office, the development of the organization's procedures manual, and the formation of ICPA's NewsNet newsletter.
Chuck always wanted to organize a small get-together at a neutral location of three people who served successive terms as president--the two of us and Dave Vanselow. Regrettably, it never happened. I'm certain we could have thoroughly enjoyed talking about our days on the board together and our very close personal relationships, particularly when we were working with former HSMA executive director Buck Hoyle, struggling with the changeover of our annual meeting registration system. Grueling as it was at the time, I believe this change had a bigger impact on ICPA than anything else in the last 10 years.
ICPA owes a deep debt of gratitude to Chuck for his many years of membership and strong leadership. He'll be sorely missed by those who knew him and especially by those who worked closely with him. His gregarious personality, knowledge, thoughtfulness, willingness to share, integrity, and warm sense of humor were a tremendous source of inspiration.
Memorials may be made in Chuck's honor to Kobacker House, Grant/Riverside Hospice, 3535 Olentangy River Road, Columbus, OH 43214.