Charles “Charlie” Brady Lewis, 72, of University Heights passed away Nov. 19, 2023.
Charlie was born Dec. 11, 1950, in Lewis County, Ky., to Claude “Joe” Brady Lewis and Helen Louella Liles Lewis, and graduated from Bloom Local High School in South Webster.
Charlie was a professional performing musician throughout his life. To support this, he worked in purchasing and operations management, and worked his last 17 working years with troubled children in an alternative school.
He sang and played music for Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple in Beachwood in support of High Holy Days and monthly Kabbalat Shabbat services for nearly two decades. Charlie was a lifetime member of the American Federation of Musicians union and served as a board member and interim artistic director at Ohio Valley Summer Theater in Athens.
Charlie’s love of music started early, singing with his parents and eight siblings at every opportunity. He and his sister Joe Anne sang as a duo throughout high school. He sang with the Ohio State Children’s Choir.
Charlie studied music and theater arts at Ohio University in Athens, performed at the Monomoy Theatre on Cape Cod, and was an original member of the Appalachian Green Parks Project, an Appalachian cultural arts performance group supported by the OU schools of music and theater, the Ohio Arts Council and National Endowment for the Arts.
From this group he and another member formed the New Vinton County Frogwhompers Marching, Singing, Strumming & Plucking Society. This group gained a following even as they transitioned to A Touch of Grass when group members switched out.
Charlie continued writing and playing music as he started his family, supporting his music with administrative employment (day jobs). He went on to form Alive & Kicking with partner Celia, and the Mighty Fine Reformulated All Purpose Family Band with Celia & cousin Bill Mullins.
Following employment opportunities, he and his family lived in Columbus, Athens County and Cleveland, and Coral Springs, Fla., for a few years, ending up in Athens County. Charlie and Celia provided music in many settings, and regularly for Fairmount Temple. When Charlie’s health took a sudden turn, he retired from all pursuits, ultimately moving to Cleveland for more consistent quality health care.
Charlie is survived by his wife of 34 years, Celia Hollander Lewis; children, Charles Darby Lewis of Shaker Heights, Emma Celeste Lewis of Athens, and Helen Carlile Lewis of South Euclid; siblings, Bob (Dianna) Lewis, Jeannie (Jim) Lewis, Joe Anne (Tom Claxon, deceased, Ken) Springer, Cathy Lewis Alexander, Wid (Patty, deceased) Lewis, Estle (Michael) Lewis-McBride and Clint Lewis. He was preceded in death by his parents and sister Claudia (Ron) Lewis.
A celebration of Charlie’s life will be held Sunday, January 28, 2024, with a Zoom link for distant participants. For more information, visit bit.ly/3SPuOFO.
Those who wish may make contributions to the Federal Valley Resource Center, at federalvalleyresourcecenter.org, or Fairmount Temple, at bit.ly/3sLZAEQ.
This obituary was copied from https://www.clevelandjewishnews.com/