Alexander is in his 11th year as the head cross country coach at Los Altos High School, and because his team had a meet the following morning they had been preparing for all season, he couldn’t travel east to accept his award in person.
 
But he wasn’t the only Saint in his living room. Vernon Glenn ’80, Bay Area CBS Sportscaster, had agreed to come over to Alexander’s and handle the filming. 
 
The work of bringing people together and building community–especially St. Christopher’s community–is something Alexander does well. In fact, it was at the heart of why he was honored this year.
 
In early 2014, Alexander got a letter from Ruth Campbell, mother of his classmate, Brian Campbell. Through the letter, Alexander learned that Brian Campbell was struggling with a myriad of health issues, most notably congestive heart failure.
 
From there, Alexander sprang into action. He rallied a group of his classmates and their networks to help Campbell in any way that he needed. 
 
“As his mobility declined, his needs grew and his social circle shrank,” Alexander said. “Still, Brian’s optimism never disappeared. But I realized he needed more help than I could give from California. That’s when I mobilized the St. Christopher’s army.”
 
For Alexander, it was an army with endless talents. “We have medical knowledge. We can repair stuff, we can clean, we can mow, we can get groceries, we can pay a bill, and we can find a new refrigerator. And above all, we could let people know that we were not alone.”
 
“Most importantly,” Alexander continues, “we all spent time with Brian, who wasn’t getting out much. When Brian had rough stretches at MCV and in convalescent homes, Rob Martin ’82 showed up with shoes big enough for his swollen feet. Rob Ault ’82, an ICU nurse, visited often and translated the medical reports for us and Brian’s brother, Scott.”
 
It wasn’t long before people began to notice the community that had formed around Brian. “A nurse remarked once, ‘he has so many high school friends visiting.’” 
 
To hear Alexander tell it, the brotherhood in action around Brian had its roots in days the men spent on St. Christopher’s Road. “We did these things because St. Christopher’s under Mr. McVey taught us loyalty. I helped Brian because Coach Nystrom taught me commitment.”
 
“When you commit to something, you see it through,” Alexander said. And it was clear that the Class of 1982 had made a deep commitment to each other.
 
“When I heard about and participated in the community that Charles had built around Brian,” Charlie Diradour ‘82 said, “I was moved, but I wasn’t surprised. His efforts are indicative of who we are as a class.”
 
Diradour reached out to Director of Alumni and Parent Relations Davis Wrinkle ‘81 to nominate Alexander for the Class of 1964 Service Award.
 
Brian Campbell passed away in February of 2025, with a few classmates by his side at the very end.
 
“I learned my class has empathy,” Alexander said. “I learned just being there is as important as helping. And, I learned we need to check on our classmates.”