Charles Marsdon Saltsman Jr.

SALTSMAN, Charles Marsdon,Jr. Charles Marsdon Saltsman, Jr., 76, of Old Lyme, passed away at home on Sunday, (December 11, 2005). He was the beloved husband of Patricia Chase Saltsman and of the late Hannah Hillen Saltsman. Born in Waterbury, he graduated from Phillips Academy, Andover, in 1948, and obtained a BS in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1952. He worked as a Marine Engineer for Bethlehem Shipbuilding Company in Quincy, MA for four years and for Raymond Engineering (now Kaman) in Middletown for 37 years, retiring as Vice President in 1993. Charlie was a devoted husband, father, engineer, artist, and sailor. As an engineer at Raymond Engineering, he designed precision electro-mechanical devices such as timers and safety switches for military applications. He participated in the development of the American heavy aerospace and military weapons systems from the 1960's to the early 1990's. As an artist, he developed a unique art technique employing wood mosaics and epoxy, and used it to create astoundingly lifelike sculptures of birds and woodland animals. From his youth, Charlie was a painter of landscapes in both oil and watercolor. Until very recently, he took painting classes at the Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts and the Lyme Art Association to enhance his artistic skills. Charlie's maternal grandfather was a ships captain in the China Trade during the 1800's. Charlie, too, had a passion for the sea and sailing which grew from his teen years throughout his life. He cruised the coast of New England with his family in their sloop Cirrus every summer for over 30 years. He was a longtime member of both the Baldwin Yacht Club and the North Cove Yacht Club where he had served each as a past Commodore. Charlie had a passion for working with wood. He simultaneously lived in and remodeled his home, the former Third Congregational Church parsonage, where he lived in Middletown. It was during that time that he served as the Chairman of the Third Church Board of Trustees. In addition to his wife Patricia, he is survived by his sister, Natalie Wheatstone of Collingwood, Ontario; three sons and daughters-in-law, Charles and Ellen Saltsman of Fallston, MD, Peter and Erin Saltsman of Amesbury, MA, and Tom Saltsman and Brooke Trivas of Marblehead, MA, and seven grandchildren, Jennette, Emily, Kyle, Parker, Cameron, Hanako and Adelaide. He is also survived by his step-daughter Wendy, her husband Sean Logan and their children Phillip and Andrew of Middlebury. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, December 17, at 3 p.m. at the First Congregational Church of Old Lyme. The interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Lyme Art Association, P.O. Box 222, Old Lyme CT 06371 or North Cove Yacht Club, P.O. Box 298, Old Saybrook, CT 06475 for the Charles M. Saltsman Junior Sailing Scholarship.