Charles Eugene "Chuck" Parente

1940 - 2016

HARVEYS LAKE — Charles "Chuck" Eugene Parente, 75, died at home on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2016, after a long illness.

Born on Nov. 28, 1940, in Wyoming, he was a son to John Parente and Anne (Carpenter) Parente. He was a lifelong Northeastern Pennsylvania resident, most recently at the Harveys Lake area for more than 30 years.

A graduate of St. John High School in Pittston, Chuck graduated cum laude in accounting from King's College in Wilkes-Barre, in 1962, and was a member of the Aquinas Honor Society. A certified public accountant since 1963, he was the founder and CEO of Parente Randolph Certified Public Accountants, which he grew into one of the largest privately owned accounting firms on the east coast. In 1988, he was appointed president and CEO of C-TEC Corporation in Wilkes-Barre, where he served until 1993.

After leaving C-TEC in 1993, he enjoyed 23 more years of various private business ventures. Chuck was owner and operator of CP Media LLC, with broadcast television stations in Florida, Tennessee, Maine and Pennsylvania. He was Partner of Sordoni Construction Services Inc., with diversified operations including construction and real estate development. Chuck was an investor in and CEO and of Pagnotti Enterprises Inc. and subsidiaries. This diversified conglomerate operates Lackawanna Casualty Company, a monoline underwriter of workmen's compensation insurance in Pennsylvania. Chuck was on the Board of Directors of W.P. Carey Co. Group and Affiliated REITs. For this publicly traded (NYSE) REIT with a market capitalization in excess of $6 billion, Chuck served as chairman of the Audit Committee. He was also a previous director of publicly traded (NYSE) Community Bank Systems Inc., of Syracuse, N.Y. He also served as former member of the Board of Directors of the Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Commerce.

As Chuck's self-made business successes multiplied over decades of achievement, he never forgot his roots. He was an organizational leader and generous contributor to many educational, charitable and civic entities in the Northeast Pennsylvania region. He funded numerous scholarships at and was former chairman of the Board of Directors at his alma mater, King's College. He served as a former member of the Board of Trustees at Wyoming Seminary College Preparatory School. Chuck was a director emeritus and former chairman of the Board of Directors of Wyoming Valley Health Care System Inc. He was a former member of the Board of Directors and former general campaign chairman of United Way of Wyoming Valley. He served on the Board of Directors of The Luzerne Foundation and was a former Advisory Board member of The Salvation Army.

In recognition of his longstanding support of regional education and community organizations, Chuck was awarded a doctor of humanities degree, honorus causia, from King's College. Chuck and his wife, Mary, were also honored to have a new Life Sciences Center campus at King's College named in their honor in 1994. He was a recipient of the Salvation Army Community Service Award and the Distinguished Citizen Award from the Boy Scouts of America.

Chuck was chairman emeritus and founding member of Glenmaura National Golf Club, in Moosic, and a member of Olde Florida Golf Club in Naples, Fla.

He is survived by his wife of more than 50 years, Mary (Morgan) Parente; by his three sons, Brian, of New York, N.Y., John and his wife, Melissa, of Tunkhannock, Charles and his wife, Elizabeth, Kahului, Hawaii; and one daughter, Marla and her husband Rob, of Dallas. Chuck is further survived by eight grandchildren, Jack Parente, Samuel Parente, Louis Parente, Evan Parente, Elena Parente, Eden Parente, Marina Sgarlat and Samara Sgarlat; and his brother, Jack Parente, of Dayton, Ohio.

In his later years, when he was not out playing golf or enjoying time with Mary, he could usually be found with a big smile on his face in the company of his grandchildren, who were the light of his life.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2016, in Gate of Heaven Church, 40 Machell Ave., Dallas. The Rev. Daniel A. Toomey and the Rev. Louis A. Grippe will officiate. A private interment will be held in Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Carverton.

Memorial donations may be sent in Chuck's honor to The Benvento & Mayo Foundation, 46 Public Square, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Harold C. Snowdon Funeral Home Inc., 140 N. Main St., Shavertown, PA 18708.