Charles “Charlie” Paul McElroy, 81, of Skaneateles, passed away peacefully at home on Monday, Oct. 10, 2022, comforted by his wife, Anne, after a courageous battle with skin cancer.
Charlie was born on June 5, 1941, to the late Anna and Herbert McElroy of Dewitt. He and his younger brother Jim had an active childhood in the community where he was a Boy Scout and enjoyed sailing on Cazenovia Lake and downhill skiing. After graduating from Jamesville-Dewitt High School in 1960, he attended Regis College in Denver, Colorado. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree and returned to the Syracuse area where he began a successful sales career as a manufacturer’s representative. Charlie’s first job was selling Cub Cadet lawn tractors for International Harvester. Most notably, Charlie worked for Purdy paint brush company for over 25 years and traveled for work all over New York state, New Jersey and parts of Canada.
On a group ski trip to Austria in 1970, Charlie met Anne Langley. They hit it off quickly and married in 1971 and settled down in Skaneateles. They enjoyed five years of marriage before having two daughters, Molly and Anne. They loved their home on Skaneateles Lake and Charlie enjoyed teaching his girls how to waterski and downhill ski. Many happy memories were made boating on the lake and skiing at the Skaneateles Ski Club.
Charlie loved traveling with his wife and daughters to numerous states and countries. In the last years of his life, he and Anne enjoyed river cruises, a cruise around South America and a trip to Egypt. His most relaxing vacation destination was Hilton Head Island, SC, where he traveled to every spring, usually in time to attend the PGA Heritage Golf Tournament.
Charlie was an avid golfer and a member of the Skaneateles Country Club. For years he played every week with his father and brothers in-law. Charlie was also a member of the Syracuse chapter of the Gyro Club, a men’s fraternity organization. The lively monthly meetings were a highlight and led to lifelong friendships.
In retirement Charlie pursued a variety of volunteer activities. His favorite was cooking breakfast on Thursdays for the residents of The Francis House in Syracuse. He was also a member of the Skaneateles Rotary Club and enjoyed cooking at the annual Father’s Day Pancake Breakfast. Another retirement pursuit was building a new home overlooking Skaneateles Lake and opening a bed and breakfast. Charlie and Anne enjoyed hosting travelers in their home and were famous for their gourmet breakfast. They even hosted wedding receptions for their daughters, nephew and guests. Charlie was grateful to have had the time to make many memories with his grandchildren, who they called ‘Boppa’. He was always up for adventures and usually had a magic trick to show them.
Charlie is survived by his wife of 51 years, Anne Langley McElroy; daughter, Molly McElroy of Seattle, WA, her husband Daniel Poux, and their children Adrien and Margot; daughter Anne Dew of Big Moose, N.Y., her husband Donald Dew, and their children Aidric, Elsa and Isaac; brother, James McElroy (Judy) of Wappingers Falls, N.Y.; sister-in law Lee Browne (Patrick) of Foxton, England; sister-in-law Judith Minissali of Rosendale, N.Y.; sister-in-law Marjorie Rockwell (Scott) of Skaneateles; brother in-law Marvin Langley (Patti) of Skaneateles and many special nieces and nephews. His beloved dogs – Gilbert, Grace and Boris, predeceased him.
Charlie lived with humor and love until the very end. His wife and daughters thank the many friends and family plus Hospice and health care workers who made his last months as peaceful and joyful as possible. In honor of Charlie, a donation can be made to the Francis House in Syracuse or Hospice of Central New York.
A graveside service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 29, at Lakeview Cemetery in Skaneateles.
To send condolences, visit robertdgrayfuneralhome.com.
