Theodore John Charney

West Point, 1951

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by Jose A. "Andy" Chacon on August 28, 2004:

Theodore John Charney Born July 8, 1929 - Died June 28, 1990 Theodore J. "Ted" Charney died suddenly from an apparent heart attack on 28 June 1990. At the time of his death, he was training for the World "Old Boy" Olympic competition being held that summer in Moscow. Athletics always played a large role in Ted's life. In high school, he lettered four years in both basketball and football. He was captain of a championship football team his senior year, class president and an Eagle Scout, as well as an excellent student. He turned down a four-year scholarship to Columbia University in order to follow his lifetime goal of a military career, and he entered West Point in 1947 on a Qualified Alternate appointment. Ted tried out for "C Squad" football but soon realized he was too small to compete at the college level. He competed instead in the "inter-murder" program, which gave him many hours of enjoyment. Shortly after graduation, he was asked, along with several other classmates, to join the 1952 US Olympic Modern Pentathlon Team. Though he did not make the final cut, he did compete in the 1951 NATO Olympics in France and in other competitions in Europe. In 1952 Ted married D'Arcy Stephens, whose father, Colonel George R. Stephens, was head of the USMA Department of English. Following a tour in Germany as a company commander, Ted was asked to return to West Point in the Master of the Sword Department under Colonel F. J. Kobes. To prepare for this opportunity, Ted was sent to Columbia University Teachers College where he earned his Master's degree in physical education. A son, Douglas Theodore, was born while the Charneys were stationed at West Point. In later years, when Ted became an avid skier, he prided himself that it was he who instituted snowmaking on the West Point ski slopes. While at West Point, he also was the OIC and founder of the Cadet Triathlon Team (running, swimming and shooting) and OIC of the Cadet Chapel Choir. After West Point, there followed career assignments at Fort Knox, Military Assistance Advisory Group Taiwan, Fort Leavenworth (where a daughter, Christine D'Arcy, was born), Fort Riley, Pacific Area Command,CINCPAC Hawaii, and Vietnam. During a four year stint at Fort Dix, where Ted was battalion commander, Director of Industrial Operations and brigade commander, he completed the War College non-resident course in 1971. At Fort Dix, Ted was sponsor of one Boy Scout troop, on the committee of another, Fort Dix representative on the Burlington County Boy Scout Council and advisor to the Knights of Dunamis, a scouting group. Ted's final tour was at Fort Meade, where he served first with the Northeast Army Recruiting Command and then with the First Army Reserve Recruiting. Both jobs entailed traveling five or six days a week. One of his farewell gifts was a toy airplane with the logo "Air Charney" on it. Ted retired from the Army thirty years to the day after he took his oath at Battle Monument in 1947. The Charneys returned to Ted's home state, where Ted worked for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and then became a stockbroker at Dean Witter Reynolds. In 1975, Ted and Doug learned to ski at Ski Roundtop, Lewisberry, Pennsylvania, starting a hobby the whole family grew to enjoy. Ted was a ski instructor at Ski Roundtop for ten years before his death. Other sports he enjoyed in retirement were snorkeling, sailing, biking, and hiking. While sports were always important to Ted, he believed in the old adage "a healthy mind in a healthy body." He was constantly reading and thoroughly enjoyed undertaking new challenges, learning new techniques and honing his abilities. Ted was proud of his service to his country. Two especially proud moments occurred when Ted commissioned his children in the service. He served as chairman of the Central Pennsylvania Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve and was a member of the American Legion and the Retired Officers Association. Once he left the military, however, there was no looking back. He was excited by the new opportunities civilian life brought. His career as a stockbroker was stimulating and satisfying, and he received national recognition. Four things were of utmost importance to Ted: his God, whom he served faithfully as a lay reader and in other capacities; his family, including his extended family, whom he loved; his country, which he served both as a military officer and as a civilian; and his friends, whom he cherished. Those who knew Ted will always remember his great integrity and fairness, his enthusiasm, energy and tenacity. He is sorely missed, but his example lives on. Ted is survived by his wife, D'Arcy, his mother, Anna died in 1997, his brother, Daniel, and his children, Major Douglas Charney and Major Christine Charney Cook. There are now two grandchildren, D'Arcy E. Cook and Paul K. Cook. jac; 18171, wc 791 (10/1/2000)

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