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Chuck Boyajian, the first Custodial Operations Manager at Disneyland Park, died on Aug. 1.
Born in Ohio in 1917, Chuck served in the Navy during World War II and later worked at the American Building Maintenance Company, the firm Walt Disney leased to clean the newly opened Disneyland Park.
Shortly thereafter, Disneyland leaders formed an official Custodial department and hired Chuck to manage it.
Inspired by Walt's philosophies about good show at Disneyland Park, Chuck created the unique set of guidelines -- cleaning standards never seen before that time -- that all Disney theme park Custodial departments use to this day.
Chuck's work included assisting at the 1964-65 New York World's Fair attractions, the opening of the Walt Disney World Resort in 1971 and at Tokyo Disneyland Park in 1983. Chuck was honored with a window on Main Street, U.S.A., one of the highest honors for an individual's work in Disney theme parks, at his retirement in 1981.
Walt Disney World Operations Manager Wayne Culver, hired as a Disneyland Custodial Host in 1968, said he remembers Chuck as a great leader and visionary dedicated to his two families -- Chuck's wife and daughters at home, and his friends and co-workers at Disneyland Park.
"I'm honored to have known him," Wayne said. "To me, he was much more than a boss. He taught me about values, honesty, hard work and doing things right.
"I remember my first days on the job at Disneyland, 36 years ago … I reported for duty promptly on time Monday morning ... Chuck came over to meet me personally at Costuming … Realizing I was nervous, he put his arm around my shoulder and said, 'Welcome to Custodial Wayne. You're really going to like it here! By the way, get some black shoes by tomorrow!' That was the start of a long and cherished relationship that I had with Chuck.
"Just a couple months after starting work, my father passed away. I was barely 18 years old, starting a new job, college [and] facing the draft … and then losing my dad. All this made for a very difficult time in my young life. But Chuck was there for me. He really took time to know me.
"It was Chuck who helped me, more than any person I knew, through the difficult times. He took me under his wing. He mentored and counseled me, and helped me make some of the most important decisions of my life. To this day, I don't know why he showed so much interest in me, but he did because that's who he was -- someone who really cared about people. He was truly a great leader.
"Custodial Cast Members here at Walt Disney World can trace their roots to back Chuck and the original Disneyland Custodial team. We owe a lot to pioneers like Chuck and Roy Young, the first Walt Disney World Custodial Manager, who also passed earlier this month.
"For me, it's as if Chuck knew from that first day, the brown shoes day, that I would go on to make Custodial my career. I later realized that Chuck did the same things for many young people. It doesn't surprise me at all to know that so many people feel the same way I do about Chuck and owe so much to him. "
Chuck was 86.
Chuck Boyajian, the first Custodial Operations Manager at Disneyland Park, died on Aug. 1.
Born in Ohio in 1917, Chuck served in the Navy during World War II and later worked at the American Building Maintenance Company, the firm Walt Disney leased to clean the newly opened Disneyland Park.
Shortly thereafter, Disneyland leaders formed an official Custodial department and hired Chuck to manage it.
Inspired by Walt's philosophies about good show at Disneyland Park, Chuck created the unique set of guidelines -- cleaning standards never seen before that time -- that all Disney theme park Custodial departments use to this day.
Chuck's work included assisting at the 1964-65 New York World's Fair attractions, the opening of the Walt Disney World Resort in 1971 and at Tokyo Disneyland Park in 1983. Chuck was honored with a window on Main Street, U.S.A., one of the highest honors for an individual's work in Disney theme parks, at his retirement in 1981.
Walt Disney World Operations Manager Wayne Culver, hired as a Disneyland Custodial Host in 1968, said he remembers Chuck as a great leader and visionary dedicated to his two families -- Chuck's wife and daughters at home, and his friends and co-workers at Disneyland Park.
"I'm honored to have known him," Wayne said. "To me, he was much more than a boss. He taught me about values, honesty, hard work and doing things right.
"I remember my first days on the job at Disneyland, 36 years ago … I reported for duty promptly on time Monday morning ... Chuck came over to meet me personally at Costuming … Realizing I was nervous, he put his arm around my shoulder and said, 'Welcome to Custodial Wayne. You're really going to like it here! By the way, get some black shoes by tomorrow!' That was the start of a long and cherished relationship that I had with Chuck.
"Just a couple months after starting work, my father passed away. I was barely 18 years old, starting a new job, college [and] facing the draft … and then losing my dad. All this made for a very difficult time in my young life. But Chuck was there for me. He really took time to know me.
"It was Chuck who helped me, more than any person I knew, through the difficult times. He took me under his wing. He mentored and counseled me, and helped me make some of the most important decisions of my life. To this day, I don't know why he showed so much interest in me, but he did because that's who he was -- someone who really cared about people. He was truly a great leader.
"Custodial Cast Members here at Walt Disney World can trace their roots to back Chuck and the original Disneyland Custodial team. We owe a lot to pioneers like Chuck and Roy Young, the first Walt Disney World Custodial Manager, who also passed earlier this month.
"For me, it's as if Chuck knew from that first day, the brown shoes day, that I would go on to make Custodial my career. I later realized that Chuck did the same things for many young people. It doesn't surprise me at all to know that so many people feel the same way I do about Chuck and owe so much to him. "
Chuck was 86.
