B. Charles (Chuck) Ames, 92, of Hunting Valley, Ohio, died on Sept. 22, 2017 at his home surrounded by his family.
He was born on June 27, 1925 in Elgin to Ruth Wright and Daniel Franklin Ames.
He grew up in Polo along with his brothers John, Gordon, Franklin, and Richard.
He was a 1943 graduate of Polo Community High School.
He last visited his hometown in 2003 where he delivered the commencement speech for the Polo Community High School graduating class.
Chuck was always proud to have been able to call Polo his hometown.
He joined the U.S. Army during his senior year of high school as a decoder in the Philippines.
He graduated from Illinois Wesleyan University, Bloomington, in 1950 and received his MBA from Harvard Business School in 1954.
Chuck's career spanned from General Telephone in Johnstown, New York, to managing director of the Cleveland McKinsey office.
His career continued on as President and CEO of Reliance Electric, CEO of Acme Cleveland, and CEO of Uniroyal-Goodrich Company.
Finally, in 1987, Chuck joined Clayton, Dubilier and Rice in New York City as an operating partner and vice chair.
Chuck was a man of great intellectual curiosity and was one of the most published writers in the Harvard Business Review.
Aside from having a prominent business career, Chuck was a philanthropist at heart.
Most notable gifts were given to his and his wife Jay's alma mater, Illinois Wesleyan, the Cleveland Museum of Art, Ames Family Center of the Hospice of the Western Reserve, and to Case Western Reserve Business School.
Chuck was especially proud of his grandchildren and enjoyed his retired years keeping up with them.
In losing Chuck, we lose a devoted family man, a great friend, and a wonderful human being.
Chuck was a loving husband of 67 years to Joyce (Jay) Grace Ames; a devoted father to Paula Redman (Michael), Richard Ames (Anne), Cynthia Huffman (Ned); and grandfather to Julia Redman, Grace Redman, Pearce Coe (Kenneth), Camille Ames, Annie Ames, Hunter Hoge, Preston Hoge, Charles Hoge.
Friends are invited to a memorial in celebration of Chuck's life to be held on Sunday, Nov. 12 at 11 a.m. at The Country Club, 2825 Lander Rd., Pepper Pike, Ohio 44124.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be made to Hospice of the Western Reserve or the Hillcrest YMCA.