Obituary of Charles S. Chadwick

Charles S. Chadwick, who had been an executive at the R.T. French Co, a Brighton school board member, and the creator of a program to honor Section V high school athletes, died Nov. 16. He was 78 and a longtime resident of Brighton. Mr. Chadwick was a graduate of the Newhouse School of Journalism at Syracuse University who began his career as a reporter for the Schenectady Union Star. After marrying and moving to Brighton in his early 20s, he took a sales job at the company that was best known for making French’s Mustard. R. T. French was then based in Rochester. Mr. Chadwick moved up to become director of public relations and was known by his colleagues as an idea man constantly dreaming up new ways to promote the company. One of his achievements was arranging for a giant French’s billboard at the centerfield fence of Yankee Stadium “Anytime someone would hit a ball to centerfield, there would be a French’s Mustard sign hitting you right in the your face,” said Gordon Fuller, a former vice-president for human resources at R.T. French. “He arranged for that and was very proud.” Mr. Chadwick’s tenure at French’s – from the early 1950s to the mid-1980s – was in an era when the mustard-maker’s parent company was expanding its product line to include wine, instant potatoes and other food items. Mr. Chadwick enjoyed the challenge of promoting the entire food line. One promotional idea he put into practice was to sponsor special trips for newspaper food writers, including one in which they went fishing and used instant mashed potatoes as a thickener for fish stew. Some of his ideas didn’t get off the ground, as when he suggested that a colleague go up in a hot air balloon shaped like a mustard jar and cook hotdogs over the gas jets. The colleague declined. “He was a remarkable man,” said Rita Fitzgerald, the co-worker who demurred on the hot air balloon. “Of all the people, I worked with in my life, I would put him at the top of my list, he was imaginative and interesting.” After leaving French’s, he founded his own company, Charles Chadwick Public Relations, and wrote and produced newsletters for many local companies. He enjoyed publicizing the achievements of ordinary people and small businesses. More recently, Mr. Chadwick devoted his public relations skills to boost local high school athletes. Obtaining sponsorship from Birds Eye Foods and Ontario Honda, he developed a program to recognize outstanding players every week with certificates and appreciative articles. Charles S. Chadwick was born in Auburn, N.Y. He had a lifelong passion for Syracuse University sports. He was also a talented gardener. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Patricia; and three children, Rachel (Jeffrey) Wicks and Andrew Chadwick, both of Rochester; and John (Maia) Chadwick of Montclair N.J. three grandchildren, Jane Wicks and Daniel and Julia Chadwick; brother, Norman (Joy) Chadwick, of Boca Raton, FL; nieces & nephews. Among his many civic duties over the years, Mr Chadwick was a past President of Temple B'rith Kodesh and served on the Board of Directors of the Association of the Blind, ARC, and Planned Parenthood and was a member of the Rochester Rotary Club and a recipient of the Paul Harris Award. Funeral Services will be held on Monday at 11 AM in the Main Sanctuary of Temple B'rith Kodesh (2131 Elmwood Ave.). Map to Temple B'rith Kodesh Interment, Mt. Hope Cemetery. Following the funeral, a period of mourning will be observed at 56 Southwood Lane, Monday, 7-9 PM & Tuesday, 2-5 PM. Map to the house of mourning. Contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association Rochester Chapter 435 East Henrietta Road Rochester, New York 14620 Link to the Alzheimer's Association or Jewish Home Foundation 2021 Winton Road South Rochester, New York 14618 Link to the Jewish Home Foundation in his memory. Home Rochester, New York Birthplace Auburn, New York