Charles Edwin Herman

1931 - 2021

Charles Edwin Herman, 90, most recently of Michigan City, Indiana, and previously of Hinsdale, Illinois, and Lathrup Village, Michigan, died peacefully on Oct. 23, 2021.

Chuck was a professional writer and animated storyteller who favored immediate action over theories and plans. That bias led him into all kinds of interesting places, conversations, jobs and experiences.

The original receipt from Woman's Hospital in Detroit showed that Alice (Boyle) Herman, husband Rudolph Herman, was admitted at 3:20 a.m. on April 24, 1931, and that Baby Boy Herman was "admitted" at 5:40, just two hours and 20 minutes later. He charged into everything that way. Eleven days later, the total bill was $111.10, which he thought was a terrific bargain, even as he admitted that his opinion might have been influenced by his involvement.

In the next 13 years, he was followed by four brothers and a sister, Tom, Jack, Bill, Fred and Alice. He grew up in Grosse Pointe and St. Clair Shores, Michigan, attended De La Salle High School in Detroit, Holy Cross College in Worcester, Massachusetts, and the Jesuit seminary in West Baden, Indiana, where he studied Latin and Greek, earned bachelors and masters degrees in Philosophy from Xavier University, and taught at Loyola University in Chicago.

Chuck left the Jesuits after eight years, but never stopped being a teacher, ever ready with an anecdote, or for those closest to him, just a familiar, guiding punchline. He found work as a speech writer at Jam Handy in Detroit, which suited him, as he always had something to say. A few years later he moved into public relations and governmental affairs for Ford Motor Company, at World Headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan. He met his wife, Patricia Anne (Kuhary) Herman, of Dearborn, there and made such an impression on their first date that she went home and told her mother she was going to marry him.

They were engaged four months later, and married in May, 1963. They had three children, Michael (Jill Perkins) of Boise, Idaho, Mark (Amy McIntyre) of Chicago and Theresa (George Uricoechea) of Urbana, Illinois. In 1977, they moved to Hinsdale, outside of Chicago, when he was named regional governmental affairs manager, the position he held until he retired in 1993. They were blessed with three grandchildren in the first decade of the new century, Tess Uricoechea, Charlie Herman and Lauren Herman, whom they both loved, enjoyed and encouraged.

In his 30 years with Ford, he authored the plaque that marks Henry Ford's birthplace, a pamphlet sent to every Ford shareholder commemorating Henry Ford's 100th birthday, speeches for Henry Ford II, and a 4-page letter that sold 750 cars. He represented the company in 12 state capitols and helped to pass seat belt legislation that is still saving lives, decades later.

In retirement, Chuck brought the Shoreline history tour to life on the Chicago River, rewriting the old recorded script and training other docents to deliver it live. He was active at Queen of All Saints Parish. He authored a book on doing business with government, a book of his own favorite life stories, travel and sailing stories, letters to editors (almost always published!), and most recently a pamphlet celebrating Duneland Beach.

He grew up sailing on Lake St. Clair and twice raced from Chicago to Mackinac. Eventually he traveled, with Pat, to all 50 states, most of the provinces of Canada, and many places in Europe and the Caribbean. He was a golfer, a wood carver and a household engineer, always fixing and improving things.

He was undeterred by great challenge or long odds. As he once told Ford executives, "Do I think we can do it? No. But I think we should try." When they eventually succeeded, the Ford Motor Company quarterly report to stockholders reported one-time savings of $362 million. This attitude, and the support of his family kept him going at work – and through his many significant health challenges, as well.

He is survived by his wife, children, grandchildren and three youngest siblings. Visitation will be on Friday, Oct. 29, at 9:30 a.m. in the Legacy Center at Queen of All Saints on East Barker Avenue in Michigan City, followed by a funeral mass at 11 a.m. in the church. Interment will be on Saturday, Oct. 30, at St. Mary's Cemetery in Milford, Michigan, in the Boyle family plot, established in 1909.

Thanks to everyone at Dunes Hospice and Memory Care at the Residences at Coffee Creek. Donations to the Lewy Body Dementia Association, Mercy Home for Boys and Girls and Loyola University Chicago are requested in lieu of flowers.

Let us confidently hope that all will yet be well. – Abraham Lincoln