Charles F. Seabrook II

1932 - 2016

Charles F. Seabrook, II

AGE: 84 • Elmer

With sad but peaceful hearts we announce the death of Charles F. Seabrook II. Born April 8, 1932, to Belford L. and Harriet Eakins Seabrook. Died in his Elmer home August 25, 2016.

He is survived by wife Jane of Stow Creek and their four children, Ivin (Charles F. III) (Kelly), Lucy (Brian Deas), Sarah (Eric DeJong) and Peter (Allison), as well as six grandchildren, Maggie, Beatrice, Charles F. IV and Sophia Seabrook and Riley and Holden DeJong. He is also survived by brothers James M., Sr. and B. Lawrence and their families. Besides his parents, he was predeceased by sister, Margaret Sanchez de Seabrook and wife, Evelyn T. Bowen Seabrook.

Charlie graduated from Woodstown High School and received an associate's degree in automotive engineering from General Motors Institute. He served in the Army during the Korean conflict. He was a purchasing executive for the family business Seabrook Farms, and in 1978 with his brother Jim, started Seabrook Brothers and Sons, the frozen-foods corporation, and worked there until retirement as vice chairman. He enjoyed traveling both nationally and internationally with his late wife, and was particularly delighted by the dozens of times they had driven across the country.

His true passion in life was cars: purchasing them, working on them, but mostly racing them. Charlie had a long and storied career as a drag racer on the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Circuit. He was always viewed as an unorthodox racer who would pursue any avenue for engine power and speed. He set many records at drag strips on the East Coast in the 1950s and 1960s. In its prime, his roadster Jersey Jimmy secured wins at the Indy Nationals in 1962, 1963, 1965, 1966 and 1969. Charlie enjoyed collecting vintage exotic cars from Lotuses to DeTomasos to Lamborghinis and relished any chance to show them off. Well into his "later years" he enjoyed racing his vintage GT40 on weekends. When not cheering on and serving as pit crew for his sons at the New Jersey Motorsports Park, he continued to enjoy tinkering on his cars and watching Formula One races. He has been honored at multiple "Lifetime Achievement" ceremonies across the eastern coast, and was recently inducted into the NHRA Hall of Fame. He never discarded an auto part or tire or tool, regardless of its utility.

He also took great enjoyment in his regularly scheduled outings with friends Robert Watson and Fred Schuchard. The family would like to extend a special thank you to them, as well as Joe Moore, for their longtime devotion to Charlie. He will also be missed by many in the racing world.

Services for Charlie will be held on Monday, September 5, 2016 at the Deerfield Presbyterian Church, 530 Old Deerfield Pike, Bridgeton (Upper Deerfield Twp.). There will be a time to greet the family starting at 10 AM followed by a memorial service at 11 AM. A celebration of life will be held at the New Jersey Motorsports Park Clubhouse, 8000 Dividing Creek Rd, Millville, NJ starting at 12:30 PM. Inurnment will be private.

Written condolences may be sent to the family through the funeral home website at freitagfuneralhome.com