Charles A. Cerami

CERAMI CHARLES A. CERAMI August 16, 1920 - February 5, 2010 Charles A. Cerami, a third generation Washingtonian who authored 13 books and over 300 magazine articles, passed away on February 5th at the age of 89, following a long illness. His writing career began at age 11, when his account of a neighborhood picnic made the front page of a community newspaper. He was a graduate of Central High School and Georgetown University''s School of Foreign Service. While still a student at Georgetown, his fluency in Italian, Spanish, French and German enabled him to become a Senior Tanslator at age 19, first in the Post Office Department, then in the Department of Justice. Cerami joined Austenal, Inc., eventually chairing a division making replacement parts for the human body. In 1960 he joined Kiplinger Washington Editors where for 20 years he served as Foreign Affairs Editor, meanwhile continuing to write independently. His books spanned topics including business management, investment methods, the formation of the European Common Market, and -- in his eighties -- works on seminal events in the early history of our nation, including the Louisiana Purchase and the creation of the US Constitution. He also contributed to such diverse magazines as Playboy, the Atlantic Monthly, the Swiss Review of World Affairs, and the Spectator of London. His articles advancing western European trade earned him knighthoods from the governments of Belgium and Italy. His civic activities included association with the Sacred Heart Adult Education Center, where he taught writing to school dropouts and immigrants. His methods enabled several of his students to win top prizes at a city-wide essay competition. Cerami was a member of the Overseas Writers Club and the Washington Institute of Foreign Affairs. He is survived by his long-time partner, Mary Ann Gale; a daughter, Victoria Huckenpahler and a grandson, B. James Huckenpahler, all of Washington; and a brother, Edward, of Alexandria. Memorial will be private.Cerami was a member of the Overseas Writers Club and the Washington Institute of Foreign Affairs. He is survived by his long-time partner, Mary Ann Gale; a daughter, Victoria Huckenpahler and a grandson, B. James Huckenpahler, all of Washington; and a brother, Edward, of Alexandria. Memorial will be private.