CHARLES MARTIN PLEUTHNER, JR.

Born: February 25, 1940
Died: April 8, 2009

Charles M. Pleuthner was born in Philadelphia, son of Charles Martin and Helen Dorothy Krueger Pleuthner. He was raised on Long Island and prepared for Yale at Sewanhaka High School in Floral Park, New York.

Charlie was a history major and a member of Jonathan Edwards College where he played on the tennis and squash teams. He was a Dean's List student. Charlie was a member of the Political Union and active at Christ Church Episcopal.

Classmate and roommate Jim Killelea recalls that "Charlie was extremely neat and organized while I was much less so. Charlie somehow got wind of those unannounced JE room inspections and alerted Mike Golden and me to avoid the indignity of having our suite cited for messiness."

Following graduation, Charlie remained in New Haven where he earned his Master's in Architecture in 1966. He then commenced his architectural practice in New Haven, subsequently in Chicago and London, and ultimately Boston. As Charlie wrote in our 25th Reunion Book, "much of my architectural career was very satisfying, especially the three years in England spent designing a large urban housing complex for London. My best production there, however, had to be my son Nicholas born in 1972. After returning to the States, I resumed practice in Boston but the design satisfaction began to ebb. In the late 1970's I made a radical career change, moving first into fundraising at Harvard Business School and then into advertising. After an initial stint as a writer and account executive for several direct marketing agencies, I decided to go on my own in 1985. It was a good decision."

Charlie's first marriage to the former Felicia O'Keefe terminated in divorce. In 1987 he married Bette Boughton and together they formed the firm of Pleuthner/Boughton, a direct mail fund raising company with national clients. He described his second career as follows: "I am working as an independent consultant developing direct marketing strategies and writing direct marketing copy. A major part of my work is fundraising for a wide variety of non-profit organizations. The work is creative and challenging. I enjoy what I'm doing and the freedom I have doing it."

Charlie and Bette were devoted long time volunteers at the Tuesday Night Supper Program operated by the Church of the Advent in Boston, serving meals to the homeless and the hungry. They also loved to travel, frequently visiting over the years London, Paris, Spain, Morocco, Ireland and the Caribbean.

Charlie particularly enjoyed playing tennis with his son Nicholas - outdoors and in all seasons so long as it was not snowing or raining. He was also a devoted Red Sox fan.

"He was," Bette recalls, "a wonderful husband." They shared their lives - work, fun and relaxation.

Charlie died April 8, 2009, at home in Boston after a long illness. He is survived by his wife Bette, his son Nicholas of Cambridge and Marblehead, and his brother David of Woodstock, New York. The family requested donations in his memory be made to the Church of the Advent Tuesday Night Community Supper Program, 30 Brimmer Street, Boston 02108, and VNA Hospice Care, 100 Sylvan Road, G-500, Woburn, Massachusetts.