Charles Edward Persons

Canandaigua, New York, to San Diego, California

Dr. Charles Edward Persons — known as "Chubber" in childhood, "Charley" during his student years, and "Chuck" after Marion lovingly renamed him — passed away peacefully at his home in San Diego, California, on August 7, 2025, at the age of 92. A brilliant scientist with an even brighter heart, Chuck lived by the wisdom he shared with his children: "Be always kind and true."

Early Life and Education

Chuck was born to Charles Philip Ament Persons and Mary Elizabeth Houghtaling Persons in Canandaigua, New York. His middle name honored his uncle, Dr. Edward B. Houghtaling — known to Chuck as “Unk”. His nickname "Chubber" came from his older brother Alan's attempts to pronounce "Charles."

Chuck's childhood was filled with lake adventures, neighborhood friends, and a multigenerational household that welcomed both grandmothers. Saturday dinners by the fireplace and the aroma of his mother's French-fried potatoes created treasured family traditions. His mischievous spirit emerged early, and pranks with friends that included staging a fake bank robbery escape and reassembling a neighbor’s porch swing on their roof, helped develop his engineering mind.

Valedictorian of Canandaigua Academy, Chuck lettered in golf but was more often found studying in his room. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics and Physics from Hamilton College in 1956, followed by both a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from MIT in 1958, and a PhD in Applied Physics and Information Science from UC San Diego in 1973.

Meeting Marion

During his time as a research assistant at Stanford University, Chuck's life changed forever. Through determined matchmaking by Aunt Alice (wife of his "Unk"), he met Marion Joyce Weisbrod, a California blonde who would change everything. Chuck was so nervous at the end of their first date that he tried to shake her hand while holding a cigarette. Marion renamed him "Chuck" — a name he embraced for life. They married on June 24, 1960.

Chuck's professional journey began with a pivotal invitation from Dr. R.J. Christensen at the U.S. Navy Electronics Laboratory, thanks to Howard Weisbrod — Marion's father and founder of the Greater San Diego Science & Engineering Fair — who recognized Chuck's potential.

Scientific Career

For 35 years (1959-1994), Chuck worked as a civilian scientist at the Naval Undersea Center in San Diego, pioneering underwater acoustics and signal processing research that proved crucial during the Cold War. His 1973 PhD from UC San Diego focused on sonar technology — work that helped develop systems used to track Soviet submarines.

Chuck received multiple Outstanding Performance Awards, advancing to become a nationally recognized authority in acoustic signal processing. He authored dozens of technical reports, held government patents, and presented at major conferences from Washington D.C. to Monterey. His work solving the challenge of detecting underwater objects when sound gets distorted created principles that still influence sonar, underwater communication, and radar technology today.

This was a man who could entertain himself on a long flight by working a three-page math problem, yet could transform into the goofiest dad, acting out stories about frogs he "met" in the family tent. His career brought unique adventures, including submarine trips in Japan and voyages on naval vessels. When Tom Clancy's technical details in “The Hunt for Red October" proved accurate, Chuck observed that "Clancy must have had very good sources."

Family Life and Character

Chuck and Marion raised three children: Lizbeth, Bridget, and Charles "Chip". In life's beautiful irony, this conservative engineer who gave up golf for family time raised three children who all went into the arts. He could often be found at the family’s chalkboard, patiently helping his kids with math homework, or backstage at Junior Theatre working the mechanics to make Peter Pan fly. When a music teacher asked him to examine the choir classroom’s acoustics, Chuck replied with characteristic wit: "I could only help if the room were filled with water."

Chuck's capacity for growth was exemplified by his approach to social issues through what daughter Bridget called his three-step process: "research, logic, and love." This commitment was so strong that he eventually left his longtime church where he had served as deacon and elder to advocate for inclusion and equality. After Chuck, Marion, and like-minded faithful left First Presbyterian, they found community at First United Methodist Church of San Diego.

In the 1970s and 1980s, Chuck cared for his aging parents after they moved to San Diego, taking his mother for Sunday drives after she relocated to a care home — devotion that mirrored the multigenerational care he'd witnessed in his childhood home.

Adventures and Simple Pleasures

Chuck knew how to have fun. He enjoyed entertaining in his home, hay rides during church choir retreats, and his excitement sharing concerts like Itzhak Perlman and The Kingston Trio. He once rescued stranded friends by arriving wearing a driver’s cap and putting on an impromptu chauffeur routine.

Chuck and Marion's travels took them to 37 countries across seven regions. He approached each destination with comprehensive study of maps, guides, and historical materials. In the 1990s, Chuck and Marion took sailing lessons together, purchasing a captain's hat to settle who was in charge of their two-person boat.

When asked about his favorite season as a kid, Chuck answered: "Summer — because the weather is warm enough for a swim in the lake. I can play golf with only a polo shirt, the days are longer so that it is still light until almost nine o'clock PM, and I can watch the showers from a secluded place while the lightning flashes and the thunder booms."

When asked what was most wonderful in his life, Chuck responded: "The most wonderful thing was meeting my best friend for life — Marion Weisbrod. I had a lot of fun knowing what her favorite things are. Like I knew she loved classical music so I got a recording of Hoffnung Music Festival featuring a garden hose and a Hoover vacuum cleaner... We took a lot of trips across the country pulling our little 13.5 ft. trailer and one time returned to California via the Trans-Canada Highway. And as our family grew to five total, we all stacked ourselves into that little trailer."

Legacy and Farewell

With blue eyes and his self-described "majestic" nose, Chuck maintained his youthful spirit throughout his 92 years. As one relative noted, it was a joy to see a "smart guy being silly." The mischievous spirit that led teenage Chuck to engineer porch swings onto rooftops never left him.

Chuck had his own special farewell ritual (perhaps inherited from his grandmothers): waving his handkerchief at loved ones from a distance as they departed, a gentle gesture that silently said "I love you, I'll miss you, and I'll be here when you return."

He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Alan (April 10, 2025). Chuck and Alan kept in touch throughout their lives, last visiting when Alan came to San Diego in March 2023. He is survived by his wife Marion of 65 years, children Lizbeth, Bridget, and Chip, daughter-in-law Erin, former son-in-law Peter, and grandchildren Teah, Anya, and Rory, who knew him as 'Papa.'"

Chuck's legacy is one of brilliance, kindness, and playfulness — a man who lived every day by his own words: "Be always kind and true."

Memorial donations may be made to San Diego Junior Theatre.

Friends and relatives are welcome to reach out to Chuck’s family for details on the celebration of his life in September.