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John Joseph Charde Jr.
Former Hampton Bays resident John J. Charde Jr. of Naples, Florida, died on November 1 at his home surrounded by family. He was 73.
Born April 28, 1937, in Lynbrook, New York to Helen (née Taylor) and John J. Charde, he contracted polio as a child, which left his legs paralyzed. In spite of this, he ambulated most of his life with the use of leg braces and crutches, and later a wheelchair. Raised with his two sisters, Mary and Rita, Mr. Charde, who despite lengthy hospitalizations, had what family described as an active and adventurous youth—replete with BB guns, high-speed wheelchair runs down available hills and boating. He graduated salutatorian of his class in 1955 from Lynbrook High School and attended Villanova University, where he receiving his bachelor’s degree in economics in 1959.
Mr. Charde married Eileen McCormack in June of 1960, and lived in Baldwin until 1969 when he, his wife and four children moved to Hampton Bays. A certified public accountant, he built his own accounting practices, John J. Charde in Southampton, and later Charde and St. George LLC in Marco Island, where he lived for more than 20 years before recently moving to Naples, Florida.
An avid sailor and outdoorsman, the pride of his sailing life was a 1914 gaff-rigged sloop, Alanna, which he restored and sailed with his family on the Peconic and other local waters for more than a decade.
According to his eldest son, John J. Charde III, Mr. Charde also was a founding member of the Bivalve Mollusk Appreciation Society, which was a loose confederation of fellows dedicated to the consumption of clams on the half-shell.
“Dad had a sense of humor that ran through pretty much everything he did. He lived life in a body that was pretty badly compromised and I think that would depress a lot of people,” Mr. Charde said. “But he did it without complaint, and there was not much that he couldn’t do. There was always a grin waiting to show on his face. He was always trying to make the people around him happy.”
Among the many professional organizations and clubs he joined over the years, Mr. Charde was a longtime member of the Lynbrook and Hampton Bays Lions clubs, and of the Marco Island Rotary, serving as its treasurer for many years.
He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Eileen Charde of Florida; two sons and their wives, John Charde III and Lisa of East Hampton and Robert Charde and Karen of New Jersey; two daughters, Lorraine and her husband Roger St. George of Florida; and Kitty Charde of New Jersey. He is also survived by eight grandchildren, plus another on the way; two sisters-in-law, Mary McCormack of Southampton and Elizabeth and her husband Barry Finn of Huntington Station.
As per Mr. Charde’s wishes, a service is not planned. His ashes will be scattered on Peconic Bay next sailing season.
In lieu of flowers, donations to Avow Hospice, 1095 Whippoorwill Lane, Naples, FL 34105-3847, or the Polio Plus initiative to eradicate polio, Rotary International, c/o Polio Plus, One Rotary Center, 1560 Sherman Avenue, Evanston, IL 60201, would be appreciated by the family.
on Nov 9, 2010