CHARLES D. HORNE

HORNE
CHARLES D.
Age 83, of Shadyside, died at home of cancer on Monday, December 24, 2012. If success is measured by the number of friends a person makes, Charlie had to be one of the most accomplished people ever. And if the phrase, "man's man", has any validity, then Charlie was its prototype. His easy-going laughter, quick wit and Irish charm drew people to him like a magnet. The son of Catherine and John Horne, Charlie grew up in Pittsburgh's Friendship neighborhood as the youngest of four siblings: Dr. Robert Horne, the late Harry Horne, and the late Margie Horne Pringle. The family was very active in the St. Lawrence O'Toole parish where he attended grade school and was president of the altar boys. A plaque in the church still commemorates his father's service as president of the ushers. Charlie followed his two brothers to Central Catholic High School. On Central's varsity football team for three years, he was named All-Star Center on the All-City Football Team in 1947. He was cast as the lead in his senior class play which, much to his delight, also led to starring roles in several all-female Catholic schools' senior class plays. A football scholarship took him to the University of Kentucky where his studies were interrupted by the Korean War. He served our country proudly in the U.S. Army as First Sergeant, 28th Division Artillery. Afterwards, he earned a B.A. degree in finance from Duquesne University and completed graduate studies at Dartmouth College and Columbia University. He took a job as a finance trainee with U. S. Steel in 1954 and, over the next 30 years, climbed the corporate ladder through a succession of positions including a 14-year assignment at its financial headquarters in New York as Director of International Finance. In 1980, he was named a Corporate Vice President and President of U.S. Steel's Real Estate Division in Pittsburgh. In that post, he imploded the former Carlton House Hotel that was owned by U.S. Steel, worked with Mayor Richard Caliguiri to clear the site and negotiate the purchase of buildings, restaurants and small businesses and supervised the construction of what is now the world headquarters for Bank of New York Mellon in downtown Pittsburgh. Additionally, he developed various U.S. Steel construction projects that included office buildings, condominiums, golf courses and shopping centers throughout the country. Following his retirement from U. S. Steel, he was hired as President of Allegheny International Realty Development Corporation and supervised the construction of what is now EQT's national headquarters in downtown Pittsburgh. Charlie understood you were expected to give back when God smiled at you. And he did so with a willing heart. He was an emeritus member of the Board of Directors, Duquesne University, and President of its Century Club for outstanding alumni. He was the former Chairman of its Development and Construction Committee that built the A. J. Palumbo Center on campus. For 30 years, he served the Board of Directors of the Pittsburgh Blind Association (now Blind & Vision Rehabilitation Services of Pittsburgh) as CFO. He chaired the committees responsible for negotiating the sale, purchase and relocation of its headquarters from Oakland to Homestead, where he directed the building's total renovation. Charlie served on Central Catholic High School's advisory board for 15 years and then for 8 years on its Board of Directors as Chairman of the Finance Committee. He liked to joke that he went from detention at Central to its board of directors. Charlie was loved by all who knew him and treasured by his family who will miss him beyond reason. He was a long-time member of the Duquesne Club and Longue Vue Country Club. He lived the American dream with humility, integrity and honor. And succeeded in passing the only test that matters … he gave back to the world more than he took out of it. He loved Jean, his best friend and wife of 30 years; and his children, Kate Horne of Dallas, TX, David Horne of Fairhaven, MA, Jack Horne and wife Janine of Naperville, IL; stepson, Josh Estner and wife Suzan of Pittsburgh; grandchildren, Julianne, Jennifer, and Jack Horne, Jr.; step-granddaughter, Jessica Givens and husband Vincent; step-great-granddaughter, Anna Givens; and 16 wonderful nephews and nieces. Friends will be welcomed from 4 to 7 p.m. on Friday at McCABE BROS. INC. FUNERAL HOME, 6214 Walnut St., Shadyside. Charlie's life will be celebrated at a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Paul Cathedral, Oakland on Saturday at 10 a.m. Burial at the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies is private. In lieu of flowers, friends wishing to make contributions in Charlie's memory are asked to consider his favorite charity, Central Catholic High School Scholarship Fund, 4720 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213.
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