Charles Del Marco

1931 - 2010

Charles Del Marco, D.O., 79, of Bozeman, passed away after a long battle with prostate cancer on Dec. 31, 2010, surrounded by loved ones. He was born Oct. 15, 1931, to John and Agnes (Tursi) Del Marco in Philadelphia.

Charlie grew up in Philadelphia. He was a graduate of LaSalle College High School, LaSalle College and Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Following high school, Charlie enlisted in the United States Navy for four years, serving on the USS Lake Champlain aircraft carrier during the Korean conflict.

He used the GI Bill of Rights to finish college and his medical school training. Charlie completed his internship in Philadelphia and his internal medicine residency at Detroit Osteopathic Hospital.

He practiced medicine in Michigan, Philadelphia, Texas and Florida before leaving clinical practice to become a pioneer in the design and manufacturing of pacemakers and other implantable medical devices. He was medical director of Intermedics, Inc., and later founded and was CEO and board chairman of Cardiac Control Systems. Charlie published many medical papers and has given lectures all over the world.

Charlie moved to the Gallatin Valley in 1989 and became CEO and board chairman of Avitel, Inc. and Avicom, Inc. He retired from all professional and business activities in 2002.

He was an avid collector of antique automobiles and is the only person to have completed the Great American Race in a steam car. Twice, Charlie motored the London to Brighton (England) race in 100-year-old automobiles.

He married Marion Nicoll in 2008, and they continued his love of travel.

Charlie's favorite trip was a transatlantic crossing and he made 18 of these, most of which were on Wind Spirit, a 360-foot sailboat.

Charlie loved to shoot trap and was a member of the Old Farts Trap and Lunch Bunch. He was also a member of Friends of the Flight, an auxiliary and support group of Daedalians. He loved to play bridge with his wife, Marion, listen to good music and was an avid reader.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and daughter, Eileen.

Charlie is survived by his wife, Marion; daughters, Denise (Khaled) Koleilat, and Susan Del Marco; grandchildren, Jeremy (Melissa) Munro, Jennifer Munro, Jasmine Munro, Christine Stein and Lauren Koleilat; stepsons, Stephen (Lisa) and Jeffrey (Maura) Nicoll; sister-in-law, Gretel Coursol; and four great-grandchildren.

A celebration of life will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, Jan. 7, at Dokken-Nelson Sunset Chapel.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Bozeman Symphony, 1822 W. Lincoln St., Bozeman, MT 59715; to Hospice, care of Bozeman Deaconess Foundation, 931 Highland Blvd. Suite 3200, Bozeman, MT 590715; or to the charity of your choice.

Arrangements are in the care of Dokken-Nelson Funeral Service; www.dokkennelson.com.