Charles B. Douglas ’50 died on April 26, 2022, in Manchester, New Hampshire
(The following was provided by the Coastal Mariner on May 10, 2022)
Charles B. Douglas ’50
Charles Douglas passed peacefully on April 26, 2022, with family by his side. Known by family, friends, and colleagues as Charlie, or by his loving wife as Doug, he was the last family member of his generation.
Charlie was born in Pachuca, Mexico, on September 5, 1929, the capital and largest city of the Mexican state of Hidalgo. Charlie’s dad, Charles B.E. Douglas, was a mining engineer for the Real del Monte mine, begun in 1739, and still in operation today.
Charlie was the youngest of three children, loved by his two older sisters, Peggy McCarter, and Sunny Wales. Charlie was sent north to Texas to join his sisters in Dallas for school when he was twelve. He attended Texas Country Day School his first year, until the school burned down. At that point, he went north to Wentworth Military Academy in Lexington, MO, where he finished high school. Charlie attended Bowdoin College, graduating in May 1950 with a bachelor’s in chemistry. While attending Bowdoin, Charlie met the future love of his life, Martha Brewster Meyer, who was attending Westbrook Junior College. Courtship on an Indian motorcycle (the first American motorcycle company) didn’t exactly meet with parents’ approval; however, it was an inexpensive mode of transportation and was eventually given away for parts. Upon graduation, Charlie became a naturalized US citizen, motivated to serve in the Korean War like many young Americans. Charlie took the train south to Parris Island, SC, for boot camp to become a Marine. Upon completion, Charlie returned by train to Boston to marry the beautiful woman who was to be his loving wife for almost sixty-nine years. Charlie and Martha were married on November 21, 1951, before Charlie deployed to Japan in support of the war effort.
Charlie started his career at the New England Merchants National Bank in 1954. Charlie’s talents were readily recognized, and he advanced through the ranks while starting a family and attending Babson College at night. Charlie received his MBA from Babson before moving his family to New York in 1968 for greater career opportunities. Serving in leadership roles first at Gray manufacturing and then and the Irving Trust Company, Charlie and Martha loved raising their family in idyllic Windmill farms, in Armonk, NY. Becoming empty nesters in 1980, Charlie and Martha moved back to New England, building a home in Cohasset where they would live for forty years. During that time, Charlie served as chief credit officer of the Bank of New England, an expert witness for the Resolution Trust Corporation, vestryman at St. Stephens Church, a member of “Old Goats”, and an avid doubles tennis player.
Charlie always loved to work with wood. He spent countless hours in his wood shop carving all kinds of birds to exacting scale, replicating wings and feathers. Over time, each family member received a bird sculpture.
Following Charlie’s retirement, he felt the obligation to share his banking knowledge with future generations of bankers and authored the book, The Outstanding Truth. Charlie spoke at business schools and banking organizations to share his book and his insights.
When Martha passed away in April of 2020, Charlie moved to NH to live with Michael and his wife Tonya, who provided love, care, and much joy to everyone. Memories of the past two years with grandchildren and great grandchildren are some of the best. Charles is survived by his four children and their families; Charles Douglas Jr. and his wife Mary Ellen, their children Charles III and Christina; John Douglas and his wife Maryanne, their children Lindsay, Brittany, Kelsey and their families; Mary Geary and her children Sean, Ryan, Bryna, and their families; Michael Douglas and his wife Tonya, their children Ashley, Mitchell, Annie and their families; and nine great-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews.
Charlie is predeceased by his wife, Martha, mother, Kathleen Douglas, father, Charles B. E. Douglas, his sisters Peggy and Sunny, along with their spouses Robert McCarter and Thomas Wales, his nephews Tom Wales, Richard Wales, Frank McCarter, and Brian McCarter.
The family wishes to thank all of the caregivers at Bedford Falls and Brookhaven Hospice for their kind and generous assistance during the last year. Charlie will be interned at the Woodlawn Cemetery in Wellesley along with his loving wife, Martha, in a private service.