Charles MacKenzie Hedlund

1938 - 2021

Charles MacKenzie Hedlund of Pittsfield passed away from complications of Covid-19 on January 22, 2021 at Springside Rehab and Nursing Center in Pittsfield after a series of illnesses, including Parkinson's Disease.

Mr. Hedlund, born in Braintree, Massachusetts, was the oldest of five sons of Thelma C. (MacKenzie) Hedlund and John Albert Hedlund, both deceased.

Mr. Hedlund is survived by his daughter, Thelma C. Campagna (Gary) of Pittsfield and son, Roland Jesse Hedlund (Mabel) of Tampa, Florida; nine grandchildren; 7 great grandchildren; 8 nieces and nephews; and four brothers - Alan of Ponte Vedra Beach, FL; Douglas of Santa Monica, CA; William of Braintree, MA; and, Jay of Washington, DC. His former wife, Bess Baker, predeceased him.

Mr. Hedlund attended Braintree public schools through the eighth grade, then won a full scholarship to Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire. At Exeter he played baseball, football and hockey, and graduated in 1956. Later he attended Columbia University and Boston University.

Charles loved to cook and made it his life-long career. In the 1960's, he started a career as a cook and chef in the Boston area, including working at famed Boston restaurants Locke-Ober and Pier 4. He later moved with his family to the Berkshires, as a chef at the Red Lion Inn in Stockbridge. He also worked at additional top restaurants in the Berkshires, including Blantyre Castle, and for his good friend Al Weinman, at the restaurant called The Restaurant in Lenox. In the late 1970's, he was the chef and partner at the Barrington House Dining Room at the Cloverleaf Pub on Main Street in Great Barrington. His career also took him to top restaurants in Washington, DC and the Los Angeles area in California.

When he was young, Mr. Hedlund, as a newsboy, delivered Boston newspapers for a number of years throughout his neighborhood in Braintree Highlands, helping to support his family, which was being raised by his mother. After retiring from his culinary career in the Berkshires, Mr. Hedlund returned to his roots and daily delivered The Berkshire Eagle and other newspapers throughout the Pittsfield area. Residents would often see him on his daily route - or in the area parks and walking trails - with his white van and faithful companion, his dog Bear.

Mr. Hedlund's family is grateful for the attentive care he received from the staff at the Springside Rehab and Nursing Center during this last stage of his life. Memorial contributions in his name may be made to: Berkshire Humane Society, 214 Barker Road, Pittsfield MA 01201 or online at berkshirehumane.org.

Arrangements are by the Dery Funeral Home in Pittsfield. Due to Covid restrictions, a memorial gathering will be planned at a later date.