Charles Lee Brazie

Charles Lee Brazie passed away August 24, 2024, at GWU Hospital in Washington DC. His death was unexpected and caused by an aggressive and very swift cancer.

Charles was born in Tilden, Nebraska on April 16, 1943. He spent the first years of his life in east central Nebraska while his father flew missions in the Pacific during World War II. He lived a nomadic life as an Air Force brat, including two years in the Philippines during the Korean War.

Charles was an Eagle Scout and graduated from Cathedral High School with honors in Belleville, Illinois, where he lettered in multiple sports. He went on to attend the Air Force Academy, where he was a member of the rugby team, completed dual BS degrees in Mechanical and Electrical Engineering at UC Berkeley in conjunction with his work with Lawrence Livermore Labs, received his MS from MIT where he specialized in fiber optics and did an internship with Bell Labs, and was granted a PhD in Engineering Management from Cornell, while interning with GE.

Charles was brilliant and curious. That innate curiosity led him down various paths in life. He was an employee and consultant for multiple firms: Booz Allen working with the Nixon EPA, Arthur Little in the Executive Office of the White House, and Arthur Young as the youngest person ever to be made Partner. He was President of Telcom in St. Louis, where he vigorously championed the future of fiber optics, especially foreseeing ocean networks linking continents.

Charles was dedicated to his country's future and was involved in several political fundraising campaigns. He loved his neighborhood and worked tirelessly on behalf of the Adams Morgan district in Washington DC, where he was a longtime resident. A jack of all trades, he enjoyed hunting, fishing, golf and besting Jeopardy contestants.

Charles is survived by his brothers and sisters Nancy Kuhnel (Douglas), Tommy Brazie (Sherry), Michael Brazie, Elizabeth Lundy (James), and Mary Wiese (Mark), and his longtime partner Lisa Duperier. Godfather to many and father figure to some, Chuck was beloved by his uncles, aunts, nieces and nephews, and many friends throughout the world. He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles Leonard and Arlene Elizabeth Krause Brazie, and one infant sister, Barbara Leigh.

Services will be held at a later date.