A Quiet Hero

We think of heroes as extraordinary people in remarkable situations, like the firefighter who rescues the tenants from a burning building, the pilot who lands a disabled plane and saves the passengers, and the taxi driver who speeds a pregnant woman to the hospital just in time for her baby's birth. These people are certainly heroes, but there's another kind of hero, one that's rarely mentioned in the news or on the Internetthe quiet hero. All heroes share similar qualities: bravery in the face of hardship, and sacrifice for the benefit of others. Quiet heroes devote themselves to improving people's lives, often without recognition, and we depend on them just as much as we do on those who risk everything for us. What both have in common is that they ask: "What can I do to make life better?" One such hero is Charles W. Denko, biochemist, physician, researcher, husband, and father. Charles was born in poverty, and at age one was stricken with polio, which left him with a severely crippled leg. These circumstances shaped him, but couldn't keep him from becoming a respected scientist. Brilliant and caring, Charles led a life of service to his scientific field, his community, his family, and to everyone he chanced to meet. There are lessons for all of us in this story of a quiet hero who followed the best of his own advice: "Work at something importantand love it " (Includes some photos of Charles Denko and family, courtesy of Denko Family archives.)