Charles Coleman

December 20, 1934 - September 27, 2020

Charles Coleman was born December 20, 1934, in Washington, D.C. and died on September 27, 2020,at age 85 in St. Augustine, Florida. He graduated from the University of Virginia with a degree in physics and started his career as a scientist at the National Bureau of Standards in the field of spectroscopy. Using a computer to calculate wave numbers, he became more interested by the tool than the physics, and eventually spent the largest part of his career as research scientist at IBM. While living near a marina in California he became interested in boating and decided to build a catamaran. Haleakala was launched in 1978, and two years later he sailed to Hawaii. There he and Elli were married aboard the vessel at Ala Wai Yacht Harbor in Honolulu in August 1980. The following year they continued south to American Samoa. Charley and Elli enjoyed living aboard and taking trips to many of the other south pacific islands. After several years in Pago Pago he decided to sail back to the US. A fateful voyage that nearly ended in tragedy but for his will to survive and an incredible search and rescue effort by the US Coast Guard. He later published a book detailing his shipwreck and rescue. Charley and Elli then settled in Hawaii where he concluded his career as Professor of Computer Science at Hawaii Pacific University. After retiring to the US mainland, he and Elli spent time land-cruising in their motor home. A chance stop at St Augustine made them fall in love with the city and they have resided here for 26 years. Charles Coleman was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Marian Coleman, and his sisters Patricia Bailey and Marian Francis Ailes. He is survived by his wife, Elisabeth (Elli) Steiger, his brother Richard Coleman and wife Marcia, and his nephew John Ailes and wife Luanne, as well as cousins and great-nephews and nieces. His ashes will be interred at the Coleman Family Cemetery in Dillwyn, Virginia, at a later date.