Charles "Chuck" Winn Fowler

1948 - 2020

June 18, 1948 - October 18, 2020 On October 18, Chuck was set free from the constraints of a 2-year struggle with lung and heart disease resulting from therapy protocols he received 28 years ago for Lymphoma. Born in Torrance, California to Charles T. and Alberta (Patterson) Fowler, he attended schools in Long Beach and graduated in 1966 from South High School. His family loved being on the water and he spent his teenage years living aboard his family's sailboat learning seamanship from his dad. In 1968, following in his father's footsteps, he enlisted in the Navy, serving in the VietNam war on the USS Goldsborough. Because of his extensive boating experience, he served as underway helmsman and gig coxswain for the Captain. He loved being on the water so much that on shore leave, after 40 days at sea, he sought out a yacht club in Hong Kong, volunteered to crew and helped win a major yacht race. On one mission, escorting an aircraft carrier in an 80mph typhoon, green water crashed over the bow onto the bridge. He literally saved his 437-foot ship when it came dangerously close to rolling. Instinctively, he corrected the ship and kept it upright. After his discharge, Chuck applied the same personal dedication and finesse to racing yachts. He sailed on Ed McDowell's Grand Illusion and raced with world class crews along the Pacific Coast as far south as Puerto Vallarta. For 9 years, when not sailing, he was a semi-pro cyclist, who managed cycling shops, and announced at velodromes. In 1971, he married Laura Cardenas and they had a son, Aemon Fowler. In 1981, he met and a year later married Laurie Angel. They shared a loving partnership and many adventures for 38 years. They loved spending time together traveling, taking long road trips in the Southwest, Pacific Coast states, and Eastern Seaboard, always favoring blue highways. They kayaked down the Colorado River, bareboat chartered in the Virgin Islands, cruised through the Panama Canal, Alaska, New England, Caribbean, Cuba, and West Indies. He achieved a lifelong dream of becoming an official Shellback by crossing the equator. Chuck loved being on the water. After he realized it was the only way to see his wife more often, Chuck became an active volunteer in the Long Beach community. In 1991, Coach Chuck fought back against cancer, and for 12 years trained hundreds to walk and run in events for Team in Training, raising funds to find a cure for Leukemia And Lymphoma. He studied walk racing techniques, motivated his teams, and brought them across the finish line to overcome significant hurdles to achieve impressive results. In all things he was skilled and meticulous in his efforts having been coached by his father, who was an aerospace quality assurance manager. He enjoyed designing high-end business furniture, some of which still appears on TV and movie sets. In 2018, Chuck retired after 18 years as a purchasing manager for Greneker, a local custom display manufacturer, Chuck was a loving father to his son, Aemon (Kristin). He loved and greatly cared for each of his grandchildren, Brody, Brennan and Brinley O'Neill and Arya Fowler. He is also survived by his younger brother, Steven Fowler (Barbara), and loving stepmother Toni Fowler Perpall. He will be greatly missed by his family, friends and all his teammates. Chuck has said, 'There is nothing like being out at sea on a black night and all you can see is stars. It can be life altering. It keeps me centered. Being out at sea is something I really like to do.' In lieu of flowers please donate to The Leukemia And Lymphoma Society in memory of Coach Chuck Fowler. Chuck's ashes will be scattered at sea to continue sailing on fair seas. Due to COVID concerns, no service will be held at this time.