Charles August Svenson, 88, of Chesapeake Beach, MD passed away June 20, 2013 at Calvert County Nursing Center in Prince Frederick, MD. He was born April 17, 1925 in Detroit, MI to Charles August and Frances (Gruber) Svenson. Charles was raised in Detroit, MI, where he attended public school. After high school he served in the United States Army from 1943-1945, and was a sailor on the Great Lakes where he attained the title All Waters Able Seaman. Charles later served as a 2nd Lieutenant and Flight Officer in the Army Air Force as a fighter pilot flying P-51 Mustangs. After WWII, Charles was employed as a union organizer in New York City. He attended law school at Wayne State University in Detroit, graduating in the late 1940’s. Following law school, Charles was employed as a newspaper editor for the Seafarers International Union where he was Director of Public Relations and Publications, and retired in 1994 as Director of Communications and Editor of the Seafarers Log. Charles married Susan Jordan in 1985 and they resided in Chesapeake Beach, MD. Charles also helped start the Paul Hall School of Seamanship in Piney Point, MD now known as the Harry Lundeburg School of Seamanship. Upon retirement, Charles worked as a mate on the William B. Tennison at Calvert Marine Museum. In his leisure time, Charles enjoyed sailing and was an amateur radio operator with the call sign of KA3YYT. He was also a member of the Covenant Community of Jesus the Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Owings, MD and a Discalced Secular at the Washington, D.C. Monastery.
Charles is survived by his loving wife Susan Harwood (Jordan) Svenson, a daughter Kirstin Karinsky and husband Jerry of Syracuse, NY, and a son Erik Svenson and wife Elizabeth of Lexington, MA. He is also survived by a brother James Svenson of Harlingen, TX, and grandchildren Katarina Svenson, Adrian Svenson, Pieter Svenson, Michael Karinsky, and Sarah Karinsky, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.