Jean Charles
January 25, 1939 — February 24, 2017
Jean S. Charles, age 78, of Lyndonville, formerly of Williston, VT, passed away at his home from an apparent heart attack on Friday, February 24, 2017.
Jean was born on January 25, 1939, in Petionville (Port-au-Prince), Haiti. He was the eldest son of the late Sterne and Yvonne Charles (née Dumornay). He completed his high school studies at Collège Saint Martial in Port-au-Prince, obtaining his Baccalaureate at the Center of Collegial Studies. He then emigrated with his parents to the United States in the early 1960s, and obtained his diploma in Electronic Engineering. Answering the call of the draft, he served in the U.S. Armed Forces, in Germany, during the era of the Vietnam War. He then married his first wife, Dr. Jacqueline Sévère. After a brief time in Québec (Canada), where his wife completed her medical residency, Jean returned to the United States. Divorced, he married his second wife, Judy Plantin, in New York. Jean and his family then moved to Williston, Vermont, where he worked as an Electronics Engineer for IBM, patenting computer chip creation techniques on their behalf from the 1980s until his retirement. He then moved to Lyndonville, VT in 2000. To pass the time, empassioned by music, he opened a small repair shop to fix electronic organs and pianos.
A man of many talents, Jean was a black belt Martial Artist, who also enjoyed playing and teaching classical guitar at Lyndon State College. He shared his passion for the guitar with his cousin Alix "Tite" Pascal. He also shared his love of this with the communities of Vermont, playing in marriage ceremonies & birthday celebrations until his final days. He was also a member of the American Legion and the local Veteran community in Lyndonville for many years. His family and friends are witnesses of his patriotism and love of country.
Jean is survived by his ex-wife Judy Charles (née Plantin) of Williston, VT; step-daughter Fabienne Nadeau (wife Dana Nahumck) of Milton, VT, daughter Stephanie Charles of Lyndonville, VT, and son Philippe Charles (girlfriend Okhela Bazile) of Williston, VT and New York, NY, his sister Dr. Yolande Charles (widow of Yvon Mouscardy) and brother Dr. Guy Charles (wife Elizabeth Woel) of Montréal, QC (Canada), his brother Reynold Charles (wife Nicole, née Hérard) of Sunrise, FL., as well as their respective families.
Yolande's sons - Ousmane Bary (wife Natacha Blanchard) & Momar Bary (wife Karina, née Pelaez) of Montréal, QC, and her grandchildren Diouma Bary, Joakim Bary, and Maïté Bary.
Guy's sons - Olivier and Vincent Charles of Montréal, QC.
Reynold's sons - Reynold Charles Jr. (wife Kisa Bowleg) of Miramar, FL, Richard Charles (wife Sulia, née Reyes) of Miami, FL, Edwin Charles (wife Jennifer, née Rogers) of Middleton, CT, Vladimir Charles (wife Ruthie, née Castro) of Seattle, WA and their respective families...
He also leaves behind his uncle Charleon Charles of Québec (Canada), aunt Christiane Dumornay of Laurel, MD, aunt Claire Dumornay, & their respective children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren; his cousins Ugo Charles (wife Mariève, née Migneault) & Noemie Charles (Martin) and their respective families; his cousins André Pascal, Alix Pascal, Honorine Pascal Pouponneau, Marthe Pascal Barreau, Guerda Pascal, Ertha Pascal-Trouillot, their spouses, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren... as well as many cousins and members of the extended family (Dumornay/Dumorne, Gedeon, Charles, Pascal, Louis, Juste, St. Amand and others), friends, as well as his brothers & sisters in arms.
He is deeply missed.
Please join us for a Celebration of Life Service for Jean S. Charles at 1:00pm on Sunday, July 31, 2017 at the Milton Eagles Club (Arrowhead Aerie #4218) in Milton, VT. Refreshments will be served following the service. He will be interred with military honors at the Vermont Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Randolph, VT at 1:00pm on Monday, July 31, 2017.
Jean was a resident of Williston and later Lyndonville, VT. He retired from IBM, taught music at Lyndon State College, and was a member of American Legion Post #58 in Saint Johnsbury. In lieu of flowers, donations in Jean’s memory may be made to the Lyndon State College Veteran's Club under "Support Our Veterans" at: http://lyndonstate.edu/giving/giving-opportunities/ or the Group of Reflection and Action for a New Haiti’s PIGRAN/QHASUQ partnership, a non-profit initiative to fund the education of young, underprivileged children at the Early Childhood Center Paul Gérin-Lajoie in Génipailler, Haiti http://www.pigran.org/pdf/cpe-en.pdf
Condolences may be shared with the family at www.guibordfh.com/notices/Jean-Charles .