Charles Richard Covert II, 77, of Guilford, formerly a long time resident of Branford, died peacefully on March 1 after a brief illness. Charles was born in New Britain on Oct. 20, 1935, son of the late Mortimer R. Covert and Ida Freeman Covert. He moved to Branford at a young age, summering on Clam Island and residing with his family in the ancestral home at 37 Wilford Avenue during the school year. He graduated from Branford High School in 1953. Soon after graduation he began his long career at Western Electric Company in Orange, interrupted only by the call of his country. Charles served in the U.S. Army from 1957 to 1961 and was stationed in Frankfurt, Germany, where he played sousaphone in the military band. Upon his return to civilian life, he was honored by invitation to continue his musical career with the Governor’s Foot Guard, including taking a trip to Washington D.C. to participate in the Nixon Presidential Inauguration, parade, and ball.

Charles was a long time member of the Grand Lodge of Connecticut Masons, the Branford Town Band, in which he played tuba, the Shoreline Chorale, Trinity Church, Branford, and Christ Episcopal Church, West Haven, where he was an active member of the choir. He pursued many other activities, including collecting of old records and classic and recent movies, playing bridge, model railroad building, and pursuing his lifelong interest in antique cars.

Music played a huge role in Charlie’s life. Besides contributing his magnificent bass-baritone singing voice to numerous chorales and choirs, and his mastery of the tuba and sousaphone, he was an expert on classical music, featuring opera. He made many trips to The Met with family and friends. He could recognize and sing virtually any piece of classical music. He loved travelling and spent time in Germany, where he had done his military service, and to The Netherlands and Switzerland, where he visited castles, hiked in the Alps, and enjoyed the steamboat rides on the pristine lakes.

On a personal note concerning an event that changed the course of his life, his family recalls that, once upon a time, Charles (known affectionately as “Champ” within his family) was engaged to be married to a young woman, Marianne. As the wedding day approached, the couple wrestled with what was then seen as a serious religious conflict as to the raising of children. Sadly, Charles and Marianne were unable to reconcile their differences and the wedding did not take place. Charles remained a lifelong bachelor.

With his warm sense of humor, outgoing nature, and relentless optimism, Charlie entertained his friends with daily repartee.

For the past six years, Charles was a resident of the Gables in Guilford, an independent retirement living facility. He organized outings and movie nights and made suggestions for various trips. On a recent trip to the State Capitol, he was photographed sitting in the Senate seat of his grandfather, Richard Covert, whose low-numbered license plate, 713, he proudly displayed on his car.

 Although he was proud of his 8th great-grandfather, the Rev. Samuel Russell, one of Yale’s founders, and his 12th great-grandfather, Theophilus Eaton, co-founder of the New Haven Colony and its first Governor, he relished things German (his maternal grandmother’s nationality) and Irish (his paternal great-grandmother’s nationality). He loved the spirited challenge to wearing Green by wearing Orange on St. Patrick’s Day.

Charles was a good and kind man, robust and yet gentle, loving, generous and steadfastly loyal to his family and friends. His spirit of optimism and inner good will led him to look on the bright side and to maintain a sense of hope and faith in the future. His good natured way made him fun to be with and his presence is deeply missed by his family and friends.

 He is survived by his brother and sister-in-law, John F. and Dorothy T. Covert of Dunedin, Florida, and by his sister and brother-in-law, Carol V.C. and Barry R. Schaller of Guilford. In addition, he was the beloved uncle of nine nieces and nephews, Deborah K. Covert of Benson, North Carolina, Douglas J. Covert of Tallahassee, Florida, Karen Lee Colburn-Murphy of Old Lyme, Carol Nicole Colburn (Hackett) of Old Lyme, Donna H. Colburn (Lenda) of Ivoryton, Kristyn E. Colburn of Branford, Katherine S. Smith of Windham, New Hampshire, Jane E. Schaller of Newburyport, Massachusetts, and Peter D. Schaller of Managua, Nicaragua. He is also survived by 18 grandnieces and grandnephews, Cynda Covert, Travis Covert, Mark Colburn, Lauren Colburn, Kevin Colburn-Murphy, Stephen Hackett, Mallory Hackett, Charles Mortimer Hackett, Audrey Lenda, Alexander Lenda, Madeline Smith, Graham Smith, Caitlin Martone, Melissa Martone, Douglas Martone, Ramon Schaller, Dylan Schaller, and Ximena Schaller.

 A celebration of his life will be held on March 16 at 11a.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church on the Green in Branford. Following the interment of his ashes in Center Cemetery, an Irish-themed reception will be held for family and friends at a location to be announced. Contributions in his memory may be made to the Trinity Episcopal Church Stained Glass Window Fund, 1109 Main St., Branford, or to the American Diabetes Association.