Charles John “Chuck” Engelhardt
Charles was born in Queens, New York on April 1st, 1925 to George Francis and Elizabeth Katherine (née Baumgartner) Engelhardt. He was graduated from The Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn in 1955 with a Bachelors degree in Science and went on to study Civil Engineering receiving a Masters degree in 1959 in Science from New York University.
Charles passed the New York State examination and was awarded his civil engineering license in 1960 and began his professional career as a project engineer at Hardesty & Hanover from 1954 to 1960. He then worked at American Car & Foundry as the supervising engineer for design and drafting from 1960 to 1962 in Berwick, Pennsylvania. Returning to New York, Charles next worked for the Port of New York Authority as a rail planning engineer from 1962 to 1966. Prompting a move to Connecticut in 1966, Charles became a marketing manager and eventually the director of international marketing for Sikorsky Aircraft from 1966 to 1976 which afforded him the opportunity to see the world selling helicopters throughout Asia and Central Africa. Charles finished his professional career in Washington, DC with AMTRAK as director of equipment engineering & development from 1976 until his retirement as senior director in 1991. Charles was instrumental in introducing high speed rail travel to the Eastern corridor.
Among his proudest achievements, after his father signed him up due to his young age, Charles served in the United States Marine Corps in the Pacific theater during World War II from 1943 to 1945 being honorably discharged having obtained the rank of private first class. He embodied “semper fi”, attending many reunions and Marine celebrations.
Charles served as commander of Butler Johnson Post of the American Legion in Elmsford, NY., was a member of the New York Railroad and very active in the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.
Charles is survived by his wife of 67 years, Florence H. (Nee Contarini), two sons: Charles George and Stephen Richard, daughter-in-law Constance Jane and two grandchildren: Brooke Katherine and Perry Joseph. Charles died of natural causes on July 1st, 2016.
Relatives and friends may call at Collins Funeral Home, 500 University Boulevard West, Silver Spring MD, 20901 (Valet Parking) Wednesday, July 6 from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Andrew Apostle Church, Arcola Avenue and Kemp Mill Road, Silver Spring, MD on Thursday, July 7 at 10 a.m. Interment Gate of Heaven Cemetery.