Charles H. "Charlie" Jaeger Jr.

Mystic - Charles "Charlie" H. Jaeger Jr., 81, of Mystic, beloved husband of Louise (Miller) Jaeger, passed away at The Westerly Hospital on Tuesday, April 5, 2011.

Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., he was the son of the late Charles and Emma (Lampe) Jaeger. He grew up in Lynbrook, N.Y., and attended East Rockaway High School, where he met Louise in his senior year during rehearsals for the senior play. They celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on Feb. 24, 2011.

Charlie began his career in the insurance industry right after high school in an entry-level position. After four moves related to his jobs, and after gaining his Chartered Property/Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) designation, he spent 29 years living in Chatham, N.J., and commuting to New York City to work. He was recruited to join Skandia Reinsurance Co. (now Odyssey Re) in 1972, and he launched its casualty underwriting division. He was promoted to executive vice pPresident not long after joining the company. Upon his retirement in 1992, Charlie and Louise retired to Mystic.

Charlie was an active member of the Mystic Lions Club, the US Power Squadron, the Mystic Men's Group, was on the board of Fellowship House Ministries in Groton, and a faithful member of Bishop Seabury Church in Groton. In the early 1960s, Charlie and Louise were founding members of Shepherds Ministries in Union Grove, Wis. Shepherds is now a nationally recognized provider of compassionate Christian care for children with mental disabilities.

He enjoyed watching football and baseball rooting for his favorite teams, the Green Bay Packers, New England Patriots, and the Boston Red Sox.

In 1967, Charlie went sailing with his boss and became enamored with the sport. He purchased a 19-foot sailboat shortly thereafter and sailed and vacationed on it with his family of six for several years. He could not sit up straight in the cabin, so eventually he bought a 29-foot Bristol. Ultimately he worked his way up to his dream boat, a 35.5-foot Bristol and finally had headroom for his six-foot two-inch frame. Charlie sailed with his family to places like Nantucket, Cuttyhunk, Block Island, and Booth Bay Harbor, Maine.

Besides his wife, he leaves four children, Charles H. Jaeger III of Quakertown, Pa., Norma J. Hopcraft of Stirling, N.J., Christine Jaeger of Somerset, N.J., and Kenneth Jaeger and his wife, Lori Galvin, of Somerville, Mass.; and two grandchildren, Sharon Hopcraft of New York City and William Hopcraft of Costa Rica.

The family will receive friends from 5 to 8 p.m. today, April 7, at the Mystic Funeral Home, Route 1, 51 Williams Ave., Mystic. Funeral services will follow at 11 a.m. on Friday at Bishop Seabury Church, 256 North Road, Groton. Burial will be held privately on Saturday in Brooklyn, N.Y.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Mystic Lions Club, PO Box 94, Mystic CT 06355, or to Bishop Seabury Church, 256 North Road, Groton CT 06340.

Please visit www.mysticfuneralhome.com for directions to the funeral home and to share an online message of condolence.