CHARLES KINSOLVING

1927 - 2021

KINSOLVING--Charles McIlvaine Jr., 94, passed away April 11th. A life-long resident of New York City, he was involved in the political, cultural, and intellectual life of the city for decades. With his extraordinary range of interests and irrepressible curiosity, he lived a fascinating life. A humanitarian, charming raconteur, club man, and provocateur, he travelled the world from Angkor Wat to Timbuktu and was always interested in others. Charles was born in January 1927 in New York City. He attended St. Bernard's School, St. Paul's School, and graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Pennsylvania, where he was a member of St. Anthony Hall. He did graduate work at Harvard, Columbia, and the Sorbonne. His passionate involvement in NYC Democratic politics began in the 1950's as did his career in advertising. He began at Young and Rubicam, and then moved to McCann Erickson. Starting in 1960, he worked for the Newspaper Advertising Bureau for over 25 years. In 1966 he became Vice-President for Marketing and Planning. With his extroversion, imagination, and broad vision, he advised advertisers on their marketing issues, particularly as they pertained to travel, leisure, and areas of financial and public opinion. He was also instrumental in convincing newspaper publishers across the nation to switch to color printing. Concurrently, he became deeply involved in New York City politics. Beginning in 1950, he was an organizer for the Reform Democrats in Manhattan. His involvement in Democratic politics came from a profound altruism, often masked by an acerbic wit. He was inspired by Eleanor Roosevelt, Adlai Stevenson, Averill Harriman and other left-leaning luminaries, all of whom he knew. He managed the campaigns of Herman Badillo for Mayor of New York, Paul O'Dwyer for U.S. Senate, and Carol Greitzer for City Council. He was a delegate from New York at the 1968 Chicago Democratic Convention supporting Eugene McCarthy for president, where he was photographed attempting to reason with Mayor Richard Daley. He was a long-serving member and Chairman of Manhattan's Community Board 6. In the 1990s, he ran for New York State Assembly. Intolerant of prejudice and corruption, he was always an advocate for the disadvantaged and underprivileged in the pursuit of equality and justice. Charles married the former Coral Eaton in 1962. Coral was a great partner and shared his interest in politics. Their apartment in New York was, for years, the venue of boisterous and exuberantly enjoyed parties attended by figures from New York literary and political circles. After Coral's death, he married the glamorous Jolie Hammer, whom he had met on Community Board 6. Jolie died in 1995. In 1998 he married Jacqueline Vogelstein, a painter and lady of gracious sophistication. Charlie's humor, kindness, and humanity will be greatly missed by many, particularly his elder brother Lucien Kinsolving of Branford, CT, his niece Lucie Kinsolving and her husband Richard McElhiney of NYC, his niece Katharine Kinsolving and her husband Richard Baumann of Sharon, CT, three grandnephews and one grandniece. A memorial service is planned. In lieu of flowers, kindly send a contribution to any humanitarian cause.