Retirement Letter – This is a letter I sent out when I retired from the the UW after 34 years of working in HVACR field and my final 15 years were at the UW Campus. Please note some of the problematic State of Wisconsin buildings were also addressed at that time during that period too because they needed a expert they could trust to repair the most complicated things correctly. Subject – Retired as of March 27th, 2020.
Greetings everyone, 3-29-2020
Friday was my last day at the University. I officially pulled the plug and retired after fifteen years.
I wanted to make sure everyone heard it from me first hand but there is no one around. A ghost town has more people in it.
I wanted to thank EVERYONE for EVERYTHING they’ve done for me but it’s just not possible to reach out at this time to perform that act and an e-mail is too cold. If you’re not on this e-mail, then…you’re just not on this e-mail.
I’m torn between a short letter and a long, drawn out one like my stories.
Maybe I’ll do both. Either way, my contact info has changed a little. I’ll list it below for those of you who are interested. Thank you. CRB
ALL THE FANTASTIC LETTERS THAT WERE E-MAILED TO ME AS I RETIRED.
Christopher B – UW Madison – Assistant Dean for Facilities and Space Assignments
Thanks for the email. Like so many other events and communication, it is a shame that Covid 19 hit as you were planning to say goodbye. I have greatly enjoyed our interactions from professional and personal perspectives. It is very rare that I encountered someone who cared quite as much about their work and responsiveness to the needs of faculty / staff as you. Maintaining a balanced air handling system in a building like South Hall was no small feat, and it was important for the working efficiency of 50 + staff that run a College larger that all of UW Milwaukee out of an 1850’s building. I know I asked you your assistance outside of the normal channels more than once, but you never hesitated to respond and successfully address our problems. I will miss our interactions and hope we run into each other in the coming years. I will be joining you in a few years as I enter my 32nd year with L&S in may. I am sure you have a myriad of fun and challenging activities ahead to keep you out of trouble (mostly). I wish you the best. Thanks again for everything and congratulations for making it to that next mile marker. Cheers, CB – Ass Dean and Dir. of Fac Plan & Dev. College of Ltr & Sci.
Ron B. Project Manager – State of Wis. – Bureau of Arch & Eng. – Div. of Fac Development and Management.
Hey Chris, congratulations on the retirement. Hope your future endeavors are fruitful. Stay in touch and let us know of you escapades down the road!
Kyle J B – Accounts Rep, Building Technologies and Solutions – JCI
Congratulations Chris, you most definitely deserve it!!! it was my pleasure working with you as a contractor at the UW. I will always miss your large personality and inappropriate jokes! Take care my friend… (My response…not in my defense…but to just add to the inappropriateness of a relationship we enjoy…”Hey, They’re ALL inappropriate…LOL…I was going through my job box and someone asked me about why I had a ugly green shirt stuffed in the back of the bottom of it… Thinking of you…lololololol If you ever need anything, always feel free to write or call!!! Great knowing you. CRB)
Patti B – UW Madison Biotechnologies – Buildings and Grounds Superintendent – I will truly miss you. Thanks for all of your help through the years!
Tom B. – Project Manager – Building Technologies and Solutions – JCI Congrats Chris!!! Best of luck with all future endeavors!
Tom F. B. – UW Madison Facilities Maintenance – Congrats Chris! Enjoy your retirement, you’ve earned it. It’s been great working with you and thank for all your help with everything.
Jessica C. – MPH, CIH, UW Madison – UHS – Chris we are definitely going to miss you – All the best to you and your girlfriend.
Thomas C. – State of WI – Electric Shop – DDC Group
A Big congrats to you Chris. Good luck in your future endeavors. Maybe when this crazy world settles down we could stop for a beer somewhere. A very good friend of mine told me the best retirement tip he was given was that the BIG paper comes on Sunday. Again, Good Luck.
Victoria C. – UW Madison – Law School –
Oh congratulations!!! I bet the first thing you’re going to do is go on a cruise! No? Maybe to Spain? 😉 Enjoy your new found extra time. I guess this virus thing gives you a chance to ease into your next adventure since no on retires. They just move on to other interests. It’s been so nice working with you even if I didn’t see you often (which was a GOOD thing!). I’m not sure WHAT we’ll do next time the a/c is on the fritz though. Take care and stay healthy! V.C.
Daniel D. D. – UW Madison – Electric Shop – Hello Chris it was good working with you and I’m hoping to keep in contact with you. These are crazy times and I’ve been working overtime. At least up until today yesterday and I’m off for the next week. If you get time give me a shout.
David A. D. – Service Manager – JCI Madison Branch – Good for you. It was fun.
David D. – UW – Madison – Hospital – WIMR Building Manager -Thanks Chris
Terry D. – Ass Bureau Director – DOFD&M
“Congrats Chris, Hope you enjoy retirement, you deserve it. It was a pleasure working with you. Any chance we see you in the private sector? If you do go work somewhere else please let me know where. – TD
Sandy F. – UW Madison – Assistant Dean of CALS Business Services – Way to go Chris! You’ll have to come in and do some morning bus rides just for fun. I wish you well. When is Jim’s Birthday? We still have to go out for that. I know we missed this past year but hopefully we can make this an annual thing.
Jeffrey J. H – UW Madison – Electric Shop – DDC Controls Division –
Sorry your last days must have been weird with no one around, not much chance to say goodbye to people. I wanted to say good luck and what a pleasure it was working with you. You should be proud of you time here and the positive impact you had on the UW, and you will be missed. We’re still interested in balancing our house after all this Covid stuff passes. In the meantime, enjoy yourself and be well, we’ll be in touch. Jeff
Monte H. – UW Madison – FP&M – Hi Chris, I’m bummed I didn’t actually get to talk to you before you left. Congratulations ol’ boy!! It was a pleasure to get to know you over the last couple of years. You’re truly one of a kind man! I always marveled at your conversations and always left smiling. the bus rides won’t be the same. Good Luck to you and good for you getting out of this place!! See you around! Take Care!
Ann H. – UW Madison – FP&M Arch. Congratulations on retirement!
Michael V H. – UW Madison – Steam Fitter Shop –
Congratulations Chris. You’ll be missed by many people but I completely understand your decision as I consider this option as well. You are a true professional. Go in peace and enjoy your new life. Best Regards, MH
Jess D. H. – UW Madison – Medical School Engineering – Chris, It was a pleasure to work with you and wish you the best. Take care! Thanks.
Rory R H. – UW Madison – Safety Department
“I am sad, but excited for you. I will miss you even though I only knew you a couple of years. I wish you the best in retirement. Your campus knowledge is/was top notch. Your stories were even better. I sincerely wish you the bestin whatever disires you have going forward. My door/phone/email is always open for you.
Alex J – UW Madison – Memorial Library Building Manager – Good timing Chris. Pleasure working with you, keep your nose clean and stay healthy.
–Gregg K. – State of Wis. SLOH Congrats on your retirement Chris!!! It was a pleasure working with you.
Gil K. – Laboratory Director – WI Dept. of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection – Bureau of Lab Services – Congratulations Chris! Needless to say, but I’ll say it anyways, we really enjoyed working with you and you’ll be missed. Have a long and satisfying retirement. Best Wishes
Amy Z P.- AIA – Arch / Engineering Supervisor – Campus Renovation Services FP&M – Congrats Chris! You will be missed! Enjoy your retirement.
Kate S. – UW Madison – Letters & Sci – Lab Tech Support Supervisor – Dept. of Integrative Biology and Psychology. Hi Chris, Congratulations on retiring! Wishing you the best in all your future endeavors. I’ll miss you, and am sadden that you will no longer be working with me. Take care. Kate Hey, just wondering, can I touch my eye after I’ve washed my hands because it itches? Asking for a friend.
Daniel J S. – UW Madison – Steam Fitter Shop Supervisor
Thank you Chris for your service. You always had a smile on your face. We laughed several times. You take care! Are you starting up a business up with JG?
Kurt S. – UW Madison – College of Letters & Science – Director of Animal Research Programs – Hi Chris, I don’t know who my go-to-guy will be now when we have air handler issues in South Hall or the animal facilities. Thanks for always being so attentive and for being a good guy to work with. You will be missed. Hope you enjoy retirement. Best, Kurt.
Benjamin T. W. – UW Madison Environmental Health and Safety Specialist – Congrats Chris, it was a pleasure working with you. All the best, Ben.
John K. W – UW Madison Biomanufacturing – Manager of Operations – Waisman Center – Congratulations to you good sir! We appreciate what you’ve done over here, we’ll miss your lengthy explanations, and You also!
Nick R. Y – UW Madison – Electric Shop – Hey Chris I really enjoyed working with you these past 15 years…once again, good luck on your retirement and hopefully our paths will cross at some UW events in the future…
(The complainer) A FANTASTIC LETTER THAT SHOWS THAT HATERS GOTTA HATE…
Dave – There was ONE person who sent out a nasty letter post my retirement. I just thought I would note it for the record and “I” am ok with it!
Contact Jeanne our offices at 1-608-884-0420 or E-mail Jeanne at
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Contact Chris in the field at 1-608-640-1550 or E-Mail Chris at