HOMETOWN HERO: Man’s spirit inspires group

MYRTLE BEACH — All of his life, Charlie Brindel said, he’s been looking for ways to help others.

He claims it just comes naturally, since his life had its share of bumps along the way.

Brindel, who is just a couple of weeks shy of 80 years old, said he, his mother and his sister lived in a World War I-era Army tent beside a railroad track in Hickory, N.C., for almost two years.

“(We) were very hungry at times,” Brindel said. “My mother worked her fingers to the bone to take care of us.”

Soon, Brindel was off to Europe and World War II.

“I went to the (local) pool room and paid an old wino to sign my father’s name to an affidavit, because they didn’t care about your birth certificate,” he said.

At the time, he was only 16.

Now, more than 60 years later, Brindel is set to retire after 24 years as vice president of the Coastal Carolinas Association of Realtors in Myrtle Beach.

Brindel’s spirit of giving continues to lead the association to reach out to the Grand Strand community in ways that inspire his employees to continue the work once he retires.

“I feel like God has trusted me with this responsibility,” he said.

Dale Johnson, former president of the association’s Board of Directors, said Brindel has lead the efforts to assist such charitable organizations as the American Heart Association, Habitat for Humanity, Relay For Life and Salvation Army, just to name a few.

“We know what to do now (that Brindel’s retiring),” Johnson said. “We’ve had 24 years of experience under Charlie’s leadership, and I suspect it’ll be a tribute to Charlie that we continue his legacy here.”

Brindel estimates he and the association have been able to donate more than $1 million to the various organizations during the years.

“During the eight years that I have known Charlie, he has helped raise money to build two habitat homes,” said Gail Olive of Habitat For Humanity in Horry County. “Charlie Brindel cares about his community and puts his hands and resources to work to make it a better place to live.”

Brindel said he just sees this kind of work as something he’s supposed to do.

“Who better than realtors to sponsor houses?” he joked. “(It’s) right down my alley.”

The Coastal Carolinas Association of Realtors will hold a retirement celebration for Brindel on May 8, his official retirement date — and his 80th birthday.