Obituary
Chuck, or “Espo” as many of his friends called him, was born of Italian immigrant parents, in Blue Island, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree at Wabash College in Indiana, and did postgraduate study in computer hardware and software design at UCLA.
Throughout high school and college, Chuck was an active accordionist, performing as a soloist, and with his small jazz ensemble. While at Wabash, he was a member of the US Army Reserves, and later went on active duty with the 71st infantry (ski) Division of the Alaska Defense Command in Anchorage, before Alaska became a state.
During a 30 year career with the IBM company, he served in various staff and management positions in administration, systems engineering, marketing, and education. Chuck’s interest in education extended outside his working career to include development and teaching of classes and seminars in photography, firearms use, motorcycle safety, and driver safety. While employed in the international operations of IBM, he worked in about 40 countries and lived in Tokyo for three years. Photography, including darkroom operations, was a major hobby while in Tokyo, where Chuck served a term as the Vice President of the International Camera Club.
Chuck was a Certified Instructor emeritus – Motorcycle Safety Foundation, a Certified Instructor emeritus – National Rifle Association, and an AARP Driver Safety Program Instructor emeritus. He was a Life Member of the American Motorcyclist Association, a Voting Member of the National Rifle Association, a Charter Member of the Saved-by-the-Helmet Club, a Charter Member of the National World War II Memorial Society, and a member of the IBM Quarter Century Club, the Libertarian Party, the Gun Owners of America, the Second Amendment Foundation, the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, the Heritage Foundation, the Georgia Firearms Policy Foundation, the Chatuge Gun Club, and the Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity; in addition, he was a contributing supporter of the American Immigrant Wall of Honor (Ellis Island), Cato Institute, End-of-Life Choices (Hemlock Society), Fully Informed Jury Association, Hillside College, Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Wabash College.
After being diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in 2006, Chuck became active in promoting Parkinson’s Disease awareness. In 2009 he joined the Blairsville area Parkinson’s Disease Support Group and in December, 2011 he was elected Leader of the group, a position he held until August, 2017. In 2012 he earned the President’s Volunteer Service Award (the country’s highest honor of recognition for volunteer service), and in January, 2017 the APDA Georgia Chapter presented the annual “Outstanding Service and Commitment to the Parkinson’s Community” award to Chuck and Brenda. Chuck occasionally served as an Official Poll Worker during elections in Union County, and beginning in 2004 he served the citizens of Union County and the Union County Board of Electors as the Libertarian Party representative on the Union County Vote Review Panel. Chuck regularly worshiped at the Mt. Lebanon Church in Suches.
Each year, for 20 years, Chuck and his family hosted an Independence Day party which was frequently attended by more than 100 guests. One of the highlights of the event was always the patriotic skit performed by Chuck and his grandchildren. In 2004, in recognition of his “outstanding contribution to spreading the ideas of freedom”, Chuck earned the “Lights of Liberty” award from the Advocates for Self-Government. As evidenced by this, as well as his occasional TV appearances, his frequent pithy letters to various newspapers and magazines, his steady stream of e-mails and letters to government officials, his website, and the Independence Day celebrations, Chuck was proud to be an American and was an ardent believer in the God given rights acknowledged in the Declaration of Independence and protected by the Bill of Rights. He believed in Mark Twain’s dictum: “Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.”
Early in 2018, Chuck and Brenda sold the beloved “Terra Espo” property they had built in the town of Suches, located in the north Georgia mountains, and moved to an assisted living community in Gainesville, Georgia, and then, in the fall of 2023, to Venice, Florida. After each move, they kept in close contact with their dear friends from Suches.
Chuck became extremely fragile after a bout with pneumonia in January of 2024 and his health continued to decline until he passed away on March 24, 2024, surrounded by his loving wife Brenda and devoted daughter Christy. Throughout the many changes in his health, Chuck accepted each new phase with grace. His strength of character was an inspiration to all who loved him.
Chuck is survived by his wife of 41 years, Brenda; daughter Christy Colato and partner Michael; son Ken Esposito and wife Kathy; grandson Nick Esposito and wife Mel, great granddaughters Mia & Keira; granddaughter Christina Esposito and fiancée John, great granddaughters Maeve & Molly and future step great grandson Dean; grandson Mike Esposito and fiancée Dana; granddaughter Catie Esposito; granddaughter Julia Esposito; stepdaughter Cindy Thompson; stepdaughter Trina Aker and husband Dave; step grandson Ashton; step grandson Nathan Aker and wife Sarah, step great granddaughters Sadie, Aubrie and Josie. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to The Parkinson’s Foundation at http://www.parkinson.org.
This message is from Donnie and Linda whose cousin, Ann Hulsey, is there at The Lakes and was a close friend to Brenda and Chuck. God Bless you each one and know we care.