Charles Robert "Chuck" Souliere

Charles Robert “Chuck” Souliere, 88, of Venice, Florida, passed away on December 26, 2024, at Sarasota Memorial Hospital in Venice. Born in Holyoke, Massachusetts, on August 18, 1936, he was the son of Charles E. Souliere and Helen L. Shea. Throughout his life, Chuck lived in Springfield, MA; Agawam, MA; Enfield, CT; and Venice, FL.

Shortly after completing High School in Springfield in 1954 Chuck proudly enlisted in the U.S. Navy, serving aboard a destroyer as a radar operator. He received an honorable discharge in 1957. Chuck then embarked on a long and successful career as a lithographer, creating high-quality images for publications like Life magazine, well before the advent of digital technology.

Later in life, Chuck returned to school, earning a degree as a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant. In this new chapter, he dedicated himself to helping patients regain independence and improve their quality of life after illness or injury.

Chuck was involved in his community, conducting classes to instruct senior adults in computer literacy as a volunteer. Chuck also served as a volunteer leader with the Boy Scouts of America.  Despite his admitted aversion to sleeping in the outdoors, he spent countless weeks in the wilderness during summer scouting trips with his sons. He is fondly remembered for his fishing trips on the Quabbin and hikes along the Appalachian Trail with family. His love for family was also evident during annual vacations, where he would enthusiastically sing his signature "V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N, we're gonna have a ball!" to kick off the trip.

Chuck will be remembered for his kindness, compassion, and loving nature. He was a true gentleman with a huge heart who touched the lives of everyone who knew him. His family and friends knew him as a warm, devoted man whose love for life was evident in everything he did.

Chuck is survived by his devoted wife of 38 years, Linda (Starkweather) Souliere, with whom he shared a love of travel and adventure. Together they traveled to 46 states and 72 countries. He is also survived by his children: Dr. Charles R. Souliere Jr. and his wife, Maria, of Gig Harbor, WA; Holly (Souliere) Fontaine and her husband, Larry, of East Longmeadow, MA; and Edward P. Souliere and his wife, Brenda, of Agawam, MA. He leaves his sister, Carol (Souliere) Bryson and her husband, Bucky, of Enfield, CT, as well as Linda’s daughters, Lisa (Starkweather) Harriman and her husband, Jerry, of Masardis, ME, and Karin (Starkweather) Santamaria and her husband, Jo, of Spring Hill, FL. Chuck is also survived by nine grandchildren and fifteen great-grandchildren.

In addition to his parents, Chuck was predeceased by his sister, Loretta (Souliere) Charbonneau.

A private family service will be held to celebrate Chuck’s life. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Heart Association in Chuck's memory.