Charles “Chuck” Ward French III
WARDSBORO- Charles “Chuck” Ward French III, 79, of West Wardsboro, died on Tuesday, March 5. He grew up in Oradell, NJ, then Ridgewood, NJ. He graduated from the Oratory School in Summit, NJ, in 1958. Mr. French attended Cornell University and Villanova University, and resided in Monroe NY, Ballston Lake, NY, and Meriden, CT.
Mr. French spent much of his career in engineering sales and was the owner of Ward Graphics. His love of the outdoors brought him to settle in southern Vermont in 1993. He was a ski patroller at West Mountain, Glens Falls, NY, and a ski instructor at Hickory Mountain, Mount Snow, and Stratton Mountain. His love of life, his sense of humor, and love of the outdoors passed on to his kids. Mr. French loved his motorcycles, especially his Ducati. He enjoyed target shooting and sailing in Newport, RI. He was a past president of the Central Connecticut Radio Control Club in Farmington, CT.
Mr. French was preceded in death by his parents Charles and Grace French, of Cape Cod, MA. Survivors include his longtime companion Cynthia Scanlon, of Huntington, CT; children Cynthia “Cindy” French of Fairfax, VA, Charles “Chip” French IV, of Saratoga Springs, NY, and Darin French, of Colonie, NY; sisters Jeanne VanHeest and Dianne Sarno; brother John French; grandchildren Haley and Hayden French; eight nieces and nephews; and his former wife Dorothy Laval.
A funeral mass was held at 10 am, Saturday, March 23, at Our Lady of Hope Church in West Barnstable, MA, followed by burial at St. Francis Cemetery, Centerville, MA. In lieu of flowers donations may be sent to Wounded Warriors.