Charles Mugler Forbes

Charles Mugler Forbes

Charles Mugler Forbes, 84, of Wilmington, Delaware, died March 7, 2012 at home surrounded by family. He was born on February 22, 1928, in Newport News, VA, the son of Otis Kennedy Forbes and Catherine Louise Mugler Forbes.

Charles graduated from Morrison High School, now Warwick High School, in Newport News, where he was the president of his class for four years, captain of the basketball team, and played football.

Charles graduated from Virginia Tech, in 1949, with a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering. He played football on a scholarship, was an officer in the Corp of Cadets, a member of the German Club, and class president for four years. He was the first person at Virginia Tech, after World War II, to gain over 100 yards rushing in a football game against the University of Maryland.

Following graduation, Charles worked in the fire insurance underwriting field and was inducted into the Air Force during the Korean conflict. He was an officer and safety director for the Tactical Air Command at Langley Air Force Base. After the Air Force, he joined the DuPont Company and worked as an engineer and personnel representative. Charles left DuPont in 1960 to join the Olin Corp. He was responsible for employment and professional relations and managed the Olin Charitable Trust.

In 1965, Charles joined Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, in New York City, as Vice President for Development, Public Affairs & Government Relations. During his time at Sloan Kettering, he initiated the first ever national direct mail fundraising program for cancer in the country, resulting in over 200,000 new donors. He also helped create one of the first charitable remainder trust programs for a non-profit institution in the U.S.

In 1979, he was recruited by his alma mater, Virginia Tech, to return and establish the first position of Vice President for Development and University Relations. He organized the first ever capital campaign for the University. In 2001, Charles was the recipient of the University Distinguished Achievement Award. Twice, the students themselves honored Charles, in the naming of their class ring collection after him, recognizing his many contributions to Virginia Tech.

While at Virginia Tech, he raised the funds necessary to start the Virginia/Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine. He was Executive Vice President for the Virginia Tech Foundation. He created the first office of Economic Development, which was the forerunner to the development of the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center, where he served as the founding President & Chairman. He established the UT Prosim Society, which honors major donors, and the William Preston Society, to honor former Board Members. He helped found WVTF, a local Public Radio Station. Charles was also a member of the Virginia Tech Alumni Association Board, the Student Aid Association, and the Committee of 100, in the College of Engineering. He sat on the German Club Foundation Board. He was a member and chairman of the Board of the Montgomery Country Hospital.

Charles left Virginia Tech, in 1992, to join the University of Delaware, as Vice President for Development & Alumni Relations. While at UD, he helped organize campaigns and raised major funds for capital and support for the Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Business and Biotechnology Buildings, Rust Skating Center, and Gore Hall.

His career spanned the four major sectors of our society - military, corporate, medical and academic.

Since retirement, Charles has been a trustee at Christina Health Care Systems and a member of the Board at The Tatnall School in Wilmington.

Charles is survived by his wife Pat; daughter, Ann Huffman, and her children Sarah, David, and Meredith, of Wilmington, Delaware; son, Scott, daughter-in-law, Kathi, and their sons, Charlie and Cameron, of Wilmington, Delaware; brother, Stuart, and his wife Janet, of Virginia Beach, Virginia; and cousins George Royden Goodson Jr., of Newport News, Virginia and Barbara Lyda, of Jetersville, Virginia.

Charles was preceded in death, by his brother Otis Kennedy Forbes Jr., of Newport News, Virginia; and parents, Otis Kennedy Forbes and Catherine Forbes, also of Newport News.

The burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be made to the Charles M. Forbes Fellowship at Virginia Tech and mailed to the Virginia Tech Foundation, 902 Prices Fork Road, Blacksburg, VA 24060 or Delaware Hospice and mailed to 3515 Silverside Road, Wilmington, DE 19810.

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