Charles Walter McCoy

Charles Walter (Chuck) McCoy died recently after an extended struggle with cancer. He was born February 25, 1945, to Charles Martin McCoy and Margaret Ashley McCoy and grew up on a 600-acre family farm in Fayette County, Ohio. He excelled at school, becoming valedictorian of the first graduating class of Miami Trace High School while singing in various choirs, playing center on the football team, writing poetry, participating in 4-H clubs, playing trumpet (in concert, marching, and dance bands), and driving dangerously above the speed limit on a regular basis. He attended Ohio Wesleyan University as an Achievement Scholar, became active in the civil rights and anti-war movements, and graduated Cum Laude from the Ohio State University with a Bachelor of Science in Social Welfare. While living in Ohio, McCoy helped create Switchboard, Inc., a Columbus organization for suicide prevention, crisis intervention, and community referral services, which was the foundation for similar current emergency services in Central Ohio. He was also involved in starting the Columbus Free Clinic, the Columbus Food Cooperative, and Huckleberry House, a resource for at-risk youth. He was affiliated with the Concord Counseling Center in Westerville, Ohio, and more recently with the Agora Crisis Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico. McCoy was a tireless champion of workers' rights, serving as a stationary delegate for the Industrial Workers of the World in the 1970's. After moving from Columbus to Albuquerque, he worked in purchasing management for the City of Albuquerque and helped organize union representation for city employees. McCoy was a National Certified Purchasing Manager and a member of the Albuquerque Peace and Justice Center, the Albuquerque Humane Society, and Mensa. His friends knew that he was a consummate storyteller, Scrabble/Lexulous player, and lover of good jokes. Perhaps less well-known is that he was also an avid fan of the television quiz show Jeopardy, watching every weekday night and relishing answering questions that stumped all the show's contestants. He and his wife once went 178 shows in a row getting at least one correct answer to a question that everyone else missed. McCoy is survived by his loving wife Brigit; daughters Angela McCoy, Cara Althoff (husband Chris Althoff) and Holly Deen (husband Aamir Deen); granddaughters Ilex Althoff, Zea Althoff, and Penny Deen; siblings Sharon Lorish (husband Robert Lorish), Roy McCoy, and Sue Cunningham; step-son Chad Holmes (wife Shannon Holmes), and step-grandson Jack Holmes. Arrangements entrusted to Riverside Funeral Home, 225 San Mateo NE, (505)764-9663.