business & professional As Long As It Takes ••,76,..f ■ I Earn Generous Life Income & Support Israel's Bright Future In these challenging economic times, some things never change. The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, founded in 1918 by Albert Einstein, Chaim Weizmann and Sigmund Freud, continues to be Israel's #1 institution for comprehensive higher education and research, forging vital advances in fields ranging from biomedicine to environmental studies. AFHU HEBREW UNIVERSITY GIFT ANNUITY RATES By establishing a Charitable Gift Annuity through American Friends of The Hebrew University, you can support this world-class university while receiving: AGE RATE 65 6.0% 70 6.5% 1M 75 7.1% • Secure fixed income for life 80 8.0% 85 9.5% • High rates of return compared to other available investments 90 11.3% • Income and estate tax benefits ACT NOW in order to lock in high CGA rates. These rates are calculated based on a single-life. Visit www.afhu.org/CGA or contact Judith Shenkman at 312.329.0332 or jshenkman@afhu.org AF HU AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE HEBREW UNIVERSITY 500 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 1530,Chicago, IL 60611 www.afhu.org I 877.642.AFHU (2348) I midwest@afhu.org 1802260 46 January 10 • 2013 walked into his office. Chuck Thav, my partner of 31 years, was on the phone. He was listen- ing and not speaking. As I went to sit down, with flair he dropped the phone down into its cradle discon- necting the call. He immediately redialed a number, and I looked at him. He put a finger up as if to say, "Wait:' So I waited. This time, he put the phone in the speaker cradle so I could hear. Again, he listened and, with the same flair, returned the phone to the cradle. This time he looked at me and broke into his ever-famous wide grin. "What are you doing?" I asked. "Calling the IRS," he said. "Looks like you have developed a new strategy ... call and hang up. Very clever," I said. "I'm calling the automated collec- tion department. If I don't like the tone of the collection representative's voice or if they are not giving me the right vibes, I just hang up and call back until I find some- one who sounds nice," he replied. He dialed again. The voice on the other line was a friendly female voice. I sat and watched as Chuck worked out a beneficial payment plan for a client that was severely behind in his income tax liability — with minimal available cash to make monthly pay- ments. I looked at Chuck and said, "Well done. How many times do you hang up and try again?" He replied with a wink in his eye, As many as it takes:' That was nearly 15 years ago, and the hanging up became known as the "Chuck Strategy." (I'm not going to tell you the strategy's real name). We immediately adopted it office wide, and the rule has become a staple item in many of the unique strate- gies that evolved over the last 30 years in our effort to address client issues. I'm sharing this "secret" with you because, sadly, Chuck passed away just before the New Year after waging an incredible four-year battle with ALS. At the shiva, I was reminded of the tradition to share stories about the loved one lost. This is my story, and I'm sharing it now. Over the last few years, I have learned that so many people have lost a loved one to ALS and under- Chuck Thav stand its relentless and dispassionate course. When you face such circum- stances, financial stress, domestic stress or parental stress all pale in comparison — in fact, they're not even close. Chuck sought every available means he could muster to fight ALS with determination — but even with his sometimes stubborn determination, in the end, he could not win. There is no winning or beating ALS. The best part, however, is that he didn't lose. ALS claimed his body and ultimately his life, but it never impinged his spirit. I, like so many, say, "I could never live that way:' Chuck did. I know he wasn't happy about it, but he did not complain. With technology, when he lost use of his limbs and all motor abilities were gone, he could email by using a wink of his eye to work the keys. He emailed me often — and never once complained. Most of the time, he was asking about others. "How are the kids?" He always had a smile and a smirk. As the disease progressed, his smirk endured to the end. I know if I asked him, "So how long are you going to keep that smirk?" He would certainly reply, As long as it takes:' Goodbye, my friend. ❑ Ken Gross is an attorney with Thav Gross and host of The Financial Crisis Talk Center, which airs at 8:30 Saturday mornings on WDFN 1130 AM radio andl p.m. Sundays on MyTV20. In 1982, he and Chuck Thav started Thav Gross.