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In memory of those who have Crossed the Bar
RATHGEB, Charles Irwin - Businessman - Sportsman - passed away peacefully at home in Toronto on June 24, 2005 at the age of 83. Chuck is survived by his loving wife and friend of 58 years, Rosemary Clarke, originally of Montreal and nephew Thomas Sceats, his wife Fabienne and nieces Charlotte and Martha. Loving thanks for continuing care to the house staff Tony, Gloria, Teresa and to Al and Sarah of the Bahamas. Special thanks to Dr. Ung of the Sunnybrook & Womens College Health Sciences Centre and to Dr. Robert Francis of Medcan. The Toronto Community Care Access Centres palliative team headed by Dr. Russell Goldman are to be commended for their loving care and support, as are his health care givers - Trudy, Joyce, Linda, Nellie, Valerio, George and Ken. Chuck Rathgeb was born in Trois Rivieres, Quebec. Moving to Toronto at an early age, he was educated at Upper Canada College and the University of Toronto (Zeta Psi). After leaving Upper Canada, he joined the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (13755) serving in Western Canada. Transferring to the Royal Canadian Navy he was a decorated officer, serving in the North Atlantic, Norwegian Sea, the Bay of Biscay and the invasion of Europe. Following the war, Chuck joined his father as proprietor of Comstock International Ltd. for over forty years in the field of mechanical and electrical construction with major undertakings across Canada, the United States and around the globe. He was a director of many major corporations both here and abroad and was associated closely with various charitable organizations. Chuck's big avocation was sports. He was at various times a Canadian member of the Commonwealth Cricket Team, a mountain climber (Canadian Rockies and Alps), a big game hunter (earning the Explorers' Club 'gold bracelet for big six' animals), member of the Canadian Marlin and Tuna Teams, 'Offshore' Power Boat Racer (Miami-Nassau, London-Monte Carlo), Cresta Rider and World Cup Bobsledder, as Manager of The Gold Medal Canadian Olympic Bob-Sled Team, Innsbruck, Austria - 1964. For many years, he ran the Comstock Ford Auto Racing Team, competing on major tracks in Canada, the U.S. and Europe and major rallies in Canada, Asia and Europe. He also found time to run a small but successful thoroughbred horse-racing stable. In the air, Chuck was an accomplished gas and hot air balloonist (Trans Canada, Trans Alpine), a glider pilot and a jet pilot, setting a World record Atlantic crossing in a Canadian CL41 jet. But the sport he enjoyed most was golf! In a different vein, he produced a Broadway play 'Staircase', a major film 'Fahrenheit 451' and he also did a brief, if memorable stint, as a rock promoter, staging a 'Doors' concert. The family will receive friends at the Humphrey Funeral Home - A.W. Miles Chapel, Toronto, Ontario (1-800-616-3311) from 4-7 p.m. on Tuesday, June 28. The funeral will take place at Deer Park United Church, 129 St. Clair Avenue West at one o'clock on Wednesday, June 29th. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Sunnybrook & Womens College Health Sciences Centre, 2075 Bayview Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M4N 3M5, Providence Healthcare Foundation, 3276 St. Clair Avenue East, Toronto, Ontario M1L 1W1 or to the charity of your choice. (Montreal Gazette 27 Jun 2005)
Ships served in: HMCS DAUPHIN - Appointed to Dauphin 02 Aug 1942 (Navy List Sep 1942)
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