CHARLES M. WILLETT

WILLETT, CHARLES M.

Co-founder of the Civic Media Center

Charles M. Willett of Gainesville passed away February 5, 2012 at E. T. York Hospice Center in Gainesville three weeks after celebrating his 80th birthday with a large and festive family reunion. Charles was born January 12, 1932 in New York City to Francis W. and Katherine T. Willett. He was educated at boarding schools and Harvard College with time out to enlist in the army and volunteer for combat as a rifleman in the Korean War. Following college, he pursued graduate work in Munich and was accepted into the Foreign Service where he studied German and Czech. He served seven years as a diplomat in Germany and Austria.

His experiences in Korea and Austria transformed his world view. Charles became an ardent pacifist, advocate for human rights, and would later become a champion of the alternative press. He earned an M.S. degree in Library Science from Simmons College and joined the American Library Association in 1974. He served as librarian of Acquisitions and Collection Management at Harvard College Library, SUNY/Buffalo Libraries and the University of Florida Libraries. At the University of Florida, he was active in the faculty union. Following his library career, he worked as European Sales Manager for Ambassador Book Service.

In 1991, he organized Crises Press to promote alternative books and magazines. Charles co-founded the Civic Media Center in 1993, an alternative library, reading room and infoshop. The CMC's stated mission is, "to provide community access to information and points of view not carried, or incompletely covered, in the for-profit and corporate media." Charles' heart, mind, and activities were intricately entwined with the life of the CMC. He served on the CMC board through 2011.

From 1997-2010, he served as founding editor and publisher of Counterpoise: For Social Responsibility, Liberty and Dissent - a quarterly journal. Its main purpose was to serve as a counterweight to mainstream journals and points of view. Charles turned his home into an office populated daily by enthusiastic interns from the University of Florida who gained invaluable experience in all aspects of journal publication.

Charles was active in many organizations promoting human rights. In 1987, he became a charter member of the Gainesville chapter of Veterans for Peace. He served on the ACLU Florida Board of Directors as a member (president 1988-1990) and as a Gainesville area member and chair (1986-90, 2000-2003). For years, he was active in the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship.

Charles was a man of great intellect, wit, energy and charm, with a finely honed sense of humor. He loved to sing, had a trained voice and sang during his college and army years. He performed in ten concerts with the Harvard Glee Club at Symphony Hall in Boston. He loved music, dance, history, and literature.

He was married to Else Kirchner Willett from 1955 to 1972. They shared a dynamic European experience for much of their marriage. Charles is survived by their four children Margaret Alexander, Peter Willett, Andrew Avalon, and Susi Willett and their respective partners, Mari Alexander, Catherine Day, Helen Avalon and Ron Kay and four grandchildren Calvin and Phoebe Willett and Julian and Gabriel Alexander. In 1981, Charles married Nancy Naylor Mallory and is survived by two step-grandchildren, Mallory James and T. Cory James. Nancy passed away in 2006. Later in 2006, Charles met Arlene Bargad at a Contra dance. Their betrothal took place in March 2008. Charles and Arlene were fortunate late in life to engage with each other in a joyous and rich relationship. Charles is survived by Arlene. He was preceded in death by his brother, Thornton W. Willett.

His overriding passion was the pursuit of a better informed and just world. In recent years, his interests broadened to include international folk dancing, Klezmer music, and Zumba Gold fitness. He was a graceful, elegant, and sometimes controversial individual. He will be greatly missed by many.

A memorial service will be held at his home in Gainesville on March 11, 2012 at 2:30 pm. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Civic Media Center at 433 South Main Street, Gainesville, FL 32601. For more information, contact the CMC at 352-373-0010 or call 352-371-2976.