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Charles B. Fethe

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Johns Hopkins University New York University Stanford University University of Illinois

Charles Fethe Obituary

Obituary published on Legacy.com by Paul Ippolito Summit Memorial on Jan. 8, 2025.

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Charles B. Fethe of Summit, NJ passed away peacefully at his home with his loving family by his side on December 12, 2024, at the age of 84.
Charles was born and raised in Baltimore, MD, the son of the late Lillian (nee Imhoff) and Charles Fethe. He had resided in Union, NJ for 10 years before moving to Summit, NJ, where he had resided the past 40 years.
Charles was a lifelong academic, earning his bachelor's degree from Johns Hopkins University where he was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa honor society. He then went on to earn a master's degree in philosophy from the University of Illinois. Charles then attended Stanford University before transferring to New York University to earn his Ph.D., where he became the recipient of the Founder's Day Scholar Award. Charles had a passion for learning and was a member of Mensa International. As a professor of philosophy, Charles loved to share his passion for learning with his students at Kean University, where he taught for over 40 years. He served as the Philosophy Department chair and was the founder of "Findings", a faculty magazine at Kean University.
Charles served on active duty in the United States Army from 1963-1965 and was stationed in Germany for two years where he received an excellence award for taking a German language course. Upon being honorably discharged Charles served four years in the US Army Reserves.
At home, Charles loved to keep fit and was an avid runner, regularly racing around the park across from his house with his son and friends. He also had an insatiable thirst for knowledge and new experiences, regularly exploring Manhattan's bookstores and galleries, putting him in the forefront of the art scene in SoHo.
Above all, Charles' greatest passion was for his family. He is survived by his beloved wife of 55 years, Jun (nee Choi) of Summit, NJ; his loving son, Kevin Fethe and his wife Carrie of Cambridge, MA and his cherished grandson Hayes Fethe. Charles is also survived by many loving relatives and friends and will be truly missed by those who loved him.
Private funeral services are under the direction of Paul Ippolito Summit Memorial.
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Dr Mervyn C. D'Souza

January 8, 2025

When Jun Fethe(née Choi) texted me that Dr. Charles Fethe, her husband had died peacefully on 12/12/24, I was overwhelmed with grief. Charles was a very close friend.
For five decades, he was my colleague and dearest friend at Kean University. We retired together, a decade ago; we kept in close touch, naturally. I visited him recently, and as usual he was jogging, a fitness guru.
But he was primarily, an intellectual par excellence- a professor of philosophy and bioethics who published several important articles in prestigious journals in the field of aesthetics, religion, education and criminal justice. He was an elegant, precise, analytical writer, a pursuer of wisdom whose writings exhibit how philosophy can shed light on current issues of great importance and help uplift civilization. As he wrote: "Philosophers are attempting new ways of thinking about right and wrong acknowledging the wisdom of Athena." Charles Fethe brought that wisdom to the classroom with eloquence and wit. His extensive course outlines available until retirement were great pedagogical tools, diligently revised to meet new demands. He was a gifted teacher, winner of two Teacher of the Year Awards. Students always sought out his courses, awarded him the highest evaluations and I can attest to that as a former Chairman of Philosophy and University Curriculum.
Dr. Charles Fethe was not only a professor and writer, he was also a man of deep curiosity and many talents. He loved to draw and paint and he was good at it. He loved gardening. One day, when he lived in Union, he asked me to come over and look at his brussels sprouts plants. "Look at the tiny cabbages on the stalks. How beautiful! Now let us take them to the kitchen and eat."
He made regular visits to museums in Manhattan and of course the SoHo area where he had many friends. He lectured on arts and aesthetics. But he led a simple life and his favorite food was a sandwich, lots of coffee and biscuits. But off and on, he ventured into Japanese cooking. He called me to his home long ago to taste his Miso soup and held forth on the benefits of Japanese cuisine. He knew a lot about fine wine and whiskey. Usually at the end of the semester we celebrated! No ethical human endeavor was foreign to him.
He was an army man. He served in Germany in the sixties and was honorably discharged. Never did he advertise his patriotism, never did he seek any honor. He told me he polished his German during his years in Germany. He received an award for excellence in the language. He could lecture in German on Sein and Dasein. Just as he did not want any awards for his service at Kean, he did not want any awards for his military service. Task accomplished, he graciously moved on.
When in the late seventies, the Philosophy Dept. was in a tailspin, I asked him to enter the contest. He did. He won. And the department recovered. (It has now been abolished.) The wellbeing of the department was his only concern. He was totally disinterested in power and prestige. He was the founder and first editor of Findings : A faculty magazine. (Now defunct.) He was repeatedly called upon to direct The Masters in Liberal Arts. He rejected the offer because he told me he was ready to retire. And when he retired, he did not look back. He forged ahead to a new station in life.
He was a devoted family man. He regaled me with stories about his mother Lillian and his devoted wife, his son and his family. He proudly showed me the first portrait his son drew and admired his son´s abilities; he spoke proudly of the successes of his wife in real estate and her for business acumen.
We retired together. We met often. We shared our philosophical perspectives. We were content- lives well-lived.
When a very close friend dies, one whose word is his bond, one whose friendship is deep, trusting and abiding, one whose wisdom is enlightening, one whose wit and laughter are
exhilarating, one whose humility is Franciscan, one whose humanity is exemplary, one cannot but be sad and ponder one´s mortality. As I delve deeper, I recognize that in all stages and stations of his life, CHARLES enhanced the good and the GOOD never dies.
I will look for you dear friend. The world beyond is vast? Where and when shall we meet? In which mansion will you reside? Will you be with the family? Will you be among the philosophers? Artists? Fallen soldiers? Gardeners? Or some combination thereof? Do these distinctions apply? This much I know for certain, you enriched many lives on this good earth.

Dr. Mervyn D´Souza
Edison NJ 08820