In memory of Charles Claassen

photo: Ben Groenhoet

We want to use this space to share the memory of a community member and notable contributor to the Chuckanut 50k in the formative years of the Chuckanut 50k. The news of Charles Claassen’s passing is a nostalgic check-in of the amazing, giving human that Charles was in our community. The North Cascades Institute shared a beautiful post about Charles’ contribution to their Environmental Learning Center and the impact his love of food had on the many aspects of life he shared in. As a lover of the outdoors and realms that encouraged people to challenge their bodies, Charles insisted on providing the soup that long accompanied our finish line. He owned the Bookfare Cafe in Village Books and utilized his sourcing and resources to better many aspects of the Bellingham community.

Before Food Trucks served their deliciousness at our finish line, Ma Moehl managed a kitchen in the lower shelter at Fairhaven Park. Charles would deliver gallons and gallons of handmade soup and helped her keep it hot for runners and to meet health safety codes. Ma often received credit for the delicious and intentional combinations of ingredients that Charles created and his humble nature just smiled and let those comments land with her. In reality, he talked through the recipes with me, thoughtful to nourish our tired runners’ bodies, and prepared and froze the soup weeks in advance to ensure we had enough even as our numbers grew over the years. His focus and intention on how his food helped runners inspired the welcoming vibe in the early years of our finish line.

We are super thankful to know this wonderful human and understand his intentional contribution to all whose lives he touched.