Charles Patterson Giersch
Charles Patterson Giersch, 77, of Strafford, Vermont died at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center on April 16, 2018, after an unexpected illness, with his loving family at his side. Born in Asheville, North Carolina, Charlie was a proud graduate of Morristown High School (NJ) and Dartmouth College Class of ‘62. Charlie was a Proctor and Gamble Scholar who ran varsity track, played trumpet in the marching band, joined Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity, and survived Army ROTC. After graduation, he served his country in the Army Intelligence Corps and was honorably discharged as a 1st Lieutenant.
Charlie’s varied business career included consulting work for Chubb & Son, W.R. Grace, Arthur D. Little, and Technomic before founding his own firm Groton Resources. While business took him around the world, he and his wife Mary Victor created a wonderful, nurturing home for their three boys. The family lived in Atlanta, GA, Boxborough, MA, and Groton, MA before Charlie and Mary Vic fulfilled their dream to live in Vermont and retired to Strafford.
Despite the occasional winter spinout, mud season, and the adventure of Hurricane Irene, Charlie and Mary Vic spent 20 glorious years looking southwest across the Green Mountains.
Throughout the years, Charlie lent his accounting and business skills to the town of Boxborough, the Groton Junior Hockey Association, Indian Hill Arts in Groton, MA, the Dartmouth Class of 1962, the Dartmouth Club of the Upper Valley, and SCORE. Additionally, he delighted in singing in the University Chorus and the Choir of St. Thomas Church, Hanover, NH. Fly fishing, canoeing, hiking, travel, tennis and long walks with Mary Vic and their English Setters Beaufort and Charlotte were favorite pastimes. In retirement, he and his wife adventured around the world, often visiting son Walker in Vietnam and traveling with him throughout Asia.
Charles leaves his wife of 54 years, Mary Victor Giersch, his three sons Charles Patterson Jr. and wife Anne of Natick, MA, Peter Gorman and wife Paige of Hollis, NH, and William Walker and wife Khanh of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; his five grandsons Connor and Lucas of Natick, Colton and Bryson of Hollis, and Tan Sang of Ho Chi Minh City; his two brothers Paul and partner Barbara of Seattle, WA and Jeffrey of Venice, FL; and his brother- and sister-in-law Thomas and Erna Jones of Whiting, VT. Charlie was predeceased by his father Charles Patterson Gorman, and his mother and stepfather Adna and E. Paul Giersch.
A memorial service will be held at St.Thomas Church, Hanover, NH on Saturday, May 12, at 4 p.m. The family wishes to thank the many doctors and nurses in the Dartmouth ICU for their extraordinary care and humanity. In lieu of flowers, donations in Charlie’s name may be sent to Dartmouth Hitchcock Health, Office of Development, One Medical Center Drive, Lebanon, NH 03756, the Dartmouth Class of ’62 Writing and Rhetoric Program Fund, Dartmouth College, 6066 Development Office, Hanover, NH 03755, or The Upper Valley Land Trust, 19 Buck Road, Hanover, NH 03755.
The family was assisted by the Rand-Wilson Funeral Home of Hanover, NH.