Charles Garrett McGovern

Charles Garrett McGovern died February 10th at his residence in Delray Beach. He was 66.

He was born August 31, 1953, in Cambridge, MA to James Francis and Mary T. (McLaughlin) McGovern.

He spent his childhood in rural New Hampshire where he developed a lifelong interest in politics, fueled by the first-in-the-nation New Hampshire Primary.

When he was a boy in 1960 his family had hosted candidate John Kennedy and as a teenager in 1972 he had encountered, among other contenders, South Dakota Senator and eventual Democratic nominee George McGovern who introduced himself with, “I’m George McGovern, and I’m running for president.” Chuck responded, “I’m Chuck McGovern, and I’m not running for anything.”

He was chosen by his high school classmates in 1971 to deliver the graduation valedictory address. He graduated from the University of New Hampshire in 1975.

Throughout his life, Chuck was an avid reader, student of politics, and sports fan. As an adult, he worked as a construction manager. He ran construction companies in New Hampshire, Colorado, and Florida.

In Delray Beach, he was enthusiastically involved with the recovery community. He was a 30-year member of Alcoholics Anonymous and was the sponsor for more than two dozen recovering alcoholics.

He is survived by a daughter Molly of Asheville, NC; a son Garrett of Denver; grandchildren Teagan and Riley of Denver and Bodhi of Asheville; a sister Anne-Marie Irwin of Beaufort, SC; a brother Paul of Thetford, VT; and several nieces and nephews.