Charles Alexander Sr.

Charles Wheeler Alexander Sr. died unexpectedly on November 11 at the age of 70. Born in Boston in 1944, Charlie was the adopted son of Dera Speegle Alexander and Francis F. Alexander. Charlie was raised in Wellesley and summered at the family cottage on Ashumet Pond in Mashpee. After graduating Wellesley High School in 1962 Charlie began his backpacking adventures and a Zen life of his own making. On a hitch-hiking odyssey that took him back and fourth across the country eleven times Charlie left his mark in many ways. Most notably, when a ride eluded him for too long he would rest his tired thumb to carve his name in the nearest road sign. It was a habit so practiced he once pulled out his pocketknife to etch his name only to find it was already there. A consummate hippie he maintained his signature long hair and full beard throughout his adult life with only a few exceptions. His beard was clean-shaven only once in the last three decades when his son remarked that he had never seen his fathers face. Charlie was also a nature lover, motorcycle enthusiast, and collector of just about everything. A passionate reader and explorer he was a self taught man of exceptional skill and intelligence and extraordinary compassion for all living things. He loved animals both domestic and wild as he was known to allow birds and other critters to nest in his home undisturbed to shelter from the cold. Charlie most loved his friends and family including and especially a tight knit group of neighbors on Alden Circle. He was truly blessed to have among them, right next door to his own home, his son and daughter-in-law and a grandson who he visited every day. They provided Charlie with the happiest times of his life. In his role as a single dad Charlie worked as a diesel engine mechanic for the Wellesley Fells Bus Company in Framingham for many years before he became an electrical technician in Hudson. Those close to Charlie knew him to be a humble man who knew a little something about everything and a lot about all things mechanical. An avid biker, Charlie opened Cape Cod Motorcycles on Route 28 Teaticket after moving to Mashpee in 1989. He sold, repaired and customized motorcycles with an expertise and passion for the Harley Davidson of which he owned several. In 2007 he closed the shop and retired. While living in Framingham Charlie and his beloved bulldog Rachel belonged to the Ashland Fish and Game Club where Rachel was the only four-legged member. He was a dedicated fan of the New England Patriots and Boston Red Sox and enjoyed playing poker with the same group of friends in Falmouth every other Thursday for the last 20 years. In addition to his son Charles W. Alexander Jr. and grandson Charles W. Alexander III Charlie is survived by his daughter-in-law Maria Eugenia Alexander all of Mashpee. Calling hours for Charlie will be held on Saturday, November 22, from 1 to 4 pm at the Chapman Cole & Gleason Funeral Home on Route 151, Mashpee. The family requests in lieu of flowers donations in Charlies memory be made to the St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital, 501 St Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.