Obituary of Charles Frederick Passenant

Charles Frederick Passenant, 84, of Charlotte, North Carolina, passed away May 4, 2023. Born November 15, 1938, in New York, he was the son of the late Frederick and Ida Passenant.

Charlie is preceded in death by his beloved wife of 63 years, Marie. He is survived by sons, Frederick, and his wife Sheila, and Joseph, and his wife Stephanie; his grandchildren, Claire, Jennifer, Craig, Derek, Thomas, Nicole, and Christopher; and Jennifer, Nicole, and Christopher’s mother, Janice; his great-grandchildren Aidan, Antonia, Sofia, Joseph and Joseph; and his nephews and nieces Chez Degennaro, Joseph Degennaro, Richard Schulz, Tammy Lewis and Mandy Schulz Mazz; as well as Marie’s sister, Rose Degennaro and her husband Charles.

Charlie grew up in Astoria, Queens. Charlie met Marie while students at Bryant High School and they married on September 12, 1959. They raised their beloved sons in Staten Island, where Charlie immersed himself as coach and director at the Great Kills Little League and at St. Clare’s intramural basketball. It is also where Charlie instilled into his sons a devout commitment to faith, family, friends, hard work, and golf. Not always in that order.

Charlie’s career began in and after high school as a butcher at the Arlington Market in Astoria. He then took on his own beverage delivery business selling Cornell soda and seltzer door to door on Staten Island. Ultimately, he took on an opportunity to enter the commercial office trade of HVAC/property management. He worked and studied his way up from engineer’s helper to engineer, chief engineer, super chief, building manager and ultimately to property manager of marquis NYC landmarks including the Exxon Building, the Rockefeller Channel Garden buildings, the Rock Center Skating Rink, and the iconic 30 Rockefeller Center building.

However, the undisputed centerpiece of Charlie’s life was and remains Marie. Their many friends and family members will attest that from when they started dating to nearly 65 years later, Charlie and Marie were “attached at the hip”. And as family and friends, we are all comforted to know they are reunited with each other now and forever.

A Funeral Mass celebrating Charlie’s life will be held on Friday, June 16 in the Chapel at St. Gabriel Catholic Church in Charlotte, NC at 11:00 am. All those who wish to join his family celebrate his life are welcome to attend. In lieu of flowers, donations may be directed to or your local Ronald McDonald House (www.rmhc.org) or Susan G. Komen (www.komen.org).

Online condolences may be made via the tribute wall at www.HankinsandWhittington.com