Charles N. Harvey Jr., loved traveling, sports

Charles N. Harvey Jr., 73, of Lewes, passed away Monday, June 17. 2024, at Penn University Hospital, due to the return of a lymphoma that he had beaten the previous year.

He was born in Leeds, England, Feb.18, 1951, only son of the late Charles N. and Mary (Jack) Harvey. The family moved to Union City, N.J., when he was 5. His mother passed away a year later at 27. When he was 12, his father remarried Helen Zak, from Lodi, N.J., who gave him his lifelong love of Polish food.

He attended Emerson High School in Union City, N.J., and graduated in 1969. He then attended Western New England College in Springfield, Mass. This is where he became "Mr. C," made friends he would keep for life, and met the love of his life, Patricia Ryan. They married June 21, 1975, in Springfield. A burgeoning career as a commercial roofing salesman moved the family to Hopewell Junction, N.Y., in 1982, where they would live for over 30 years.

Charlie was not one to sit still and was always on the go. He always loved sports, playing basketball and football in high school. As an adult, he played basketball, volleyball, golf and was an avid cyclist. In retirement, he played pool, fished, rode his motorcycle, and spent time at the beach. When not out playing he always had a game on at home, with the Yankees, Giants, and Leeds United being top of the list. He also loved to travel; Cape Cod, Puerto Vallarta, England, Ireland and Scotland being favorites. He was also known to visit his grandchildren as often as possible.

Charlie battled kidney disease for most of his life. After 40 years of keeping his kidneys in good health, it was finally time to get a kidney transplant. As luck would have it, his wife and children were all matches. Patricia donated a kidney in 2014, bringing them that much closer together. They then retired and moved to Lewes that same year. In Delaware, they realized that Patricia could be denied health insurance because she had donated an organ. Charlie called his state senator and began the process that established the Living Donor Protection Act of 2022 - making it illegal for insurance companies to discriminate against living organ or tissue donors in Delaware.

Charlie is survived by his loving wife of 49 years, Patricia; his son, Charles (Angie) of Wilmington; his son, Brian (Lauren) of Yonkers, N.Y.; his grandchildren, Tess, Devon, Colin, Paige and Kate; five brothers-in-law; five sisters-in-law; and his 16 nieces and nephews. He is also survived by Harvey and Jack, relatives in England whom he reunited with during a 2001 visit.

A Celebration of Life will be planned at a later date, and family and friends will be notified.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the National Kidney Foundation, kidney.org.

Visit Charles's Life Memorial webpage at parsellfuneralhomes.com.