Tributes

Charles Allen Graves “Chuck” was born on July 16, 1941, in Gowanda, New York. Chuck passed away unexpectedly on June 14, 2023, at Sunrise of Granite Run in Media, PA, where he had been a resident in the memory care unit. Chuck was the only child of Warren and Irene (Capella) Graves, to whom he was deeply devoted. He enjoyed a quintessential small town upstate childhood in Gowanda, NY. He attended Gowanda High School, where he was active in many clubs, was editor of the Panther Gazette newspaper, the accompanist for the chorus, going to all-state chorus in his senior year, the business manager for the yearbook, and a member of the National Honor Society. Chuck graduated with honors - third in a class of eighty students. After his High School graduation in 1959 Chuck attended Cornell University where he completed a double major in Architecture, a 5-year program, and in economics, graduating in 1964 with a 1963 class year. While at Cornell he joined Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity and was elected to several leadership positions including president. Chuck subsequently moved to Philadelphia and made it his home. Chuck received an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania where he was also a Ph.D. candidate. Chuck enjoyed a forty-year career at Day & Zimmermann, a large international construction and engineering firm based in Philadelphia. His notable accomplishments included playing a key role in the multi-year project to appraise the assets of Penn Central after it declared bankruptcy. Later in his career, he worked in international sales and regulatory compliance. During that time, Chuck created ethics programs and represented the company as a participant in the Defense Industry Initiative. He retired from Day and Zimmermann as a Senior Vice President. Chuck’s work took him around the world, and he developed a love for international travel, particularly to England. He collected many things, but the most important were books. He read voraciously, amassing an immense collection spanning genres and subjects. Chuck loved classical music, frequently attended concerts, and when at home, he could be found playing the piano. Chuck is remembered fondly by his Day & Zimmermann colleagues, friends from Gowanda and Cornell, Philadelphia neighbors, and caregivers. He will be missed by his childhood friend, Linda Stout Peck, who kept in touch with Chuck over the years, and still lives in Gowanda. Chuck is survived by nine first cousins (all on his father’s side), five Peterson cousins: Christye Peterson (Peter Grogan), Laurie Erb (Dorian Welch), Martha Hof (Russell), Kathryn Schwing, Glenn Peterson (Kay), and four Cassidy cousins: James Michael (Andrea) Cassidy, Timothy C. (Stephanie, deceased) Cassidy, Patricia A. (Jared) Cooper, and Maura J. (James) Domagola. Chuck’s ashes will be buried next to his parents’ grave in Gowanda. Memorial contributions may be made to the Gowanda Free Library, 56 West Main St, Gowanda, NY 14070 or to Cornell University, check memo line: Delta Kappa Epsilon Group Housing Fund #277009, mail to DKE Alumni Association, PO Box 876, Ithaca, NY 14851-9980. All who knew Chuck are invited to attend an informal celebration of his life to be held on September 30, 2023, from 12 – 3 pm at the Seasons 52 Restaurant, King of Prussia, PA. Come prepared to share your “Chuck stories.” Please RSVP to his longtime friend George Fox at george.fox@att.net, phone 860-429-0424.

Tributes

Charles Allen Graves

July 16, 1941 - June 14, 2023