Nader, Charles Dr.

Dr. Charles P. Nader “Charlie” of Milwaukee, died May 27, 2011 at the age of 91. Loving husband of Lydia Mae for 57 years. Proud father of David (Karen), Steven (Nenita), and James (Katherine Stackpoole). Dear grandfather of Steven and Amy. Survived by nieces, nephews, other relatives, and many friends. Preceded in death by his father (David), mother (Anna), brothers Ernest and Odea (“Waddie”), and sister Lila. Charlie was born on May 31, 1919 in New London, WI and counted the banks and waters of the Wolf and Embarrass Rivers as part of his childhood playground. His parents emigrated in 1908-10 from an area in or near what is believed to be Duma, Syria and owned a grocery store on the Wolf River along New London’s main street. His parent’s store likely contributed to Charlie’s love for finding a good bargain. The family enjoyed his recollections of watching bootleggers load trucks in the middle of the night across the street from their grocery store. He attended McKinley Elementary School, Lincoln Junior High School, and was a 1937 graduate of Washington High School in New London, excelling in basketball, softball, and track. Charlie’s high school basketball teams won two district titles and participated in the 1936 State Championship in Wisconsin Rapids. During his senior year, his basketball coach, Del Stacy, encouraged Charlie to go to college, and his love of sports and physical competition led to his life-long passion for physical fitness and good health habits. Charlie once said, “If a boy is an athlete, he is influenced by his coaches a lot”. After turning down a scholarship at Carroll College because they had no physical education department, Charlie graduated from La Crosse State Teachers College in 1941 (now UW-La Crosse), majoring in physical education and history. He was active in various organizations and fraternities, and played on the basketball, tennis, and ice hockey teams. He helped the school win the 1937-38 Softball Championship and was also a singles and doubles Horseshoe Champion that same year. After La Crosse, Charlie went on to receive a Master of Arts degree in physical education from the University of Iowa in the summer of 1942. In October 1942, he enlisted in the Navy and spent nine weeks of boot camp at Great Lakes, IL. After boot camp, Charlie applied to a physical fitness instructor school in Norfolk, VA where he helped write the “Physical Fitness Manual for the U.S. Navy”. He served as a Navy lieutenant and coached service teams in track, basketball, baseball, and boxing in Hawaii and the Philippines. While in Hawaii, Charlie worked with Fred Apostoli, the world middleweight champion at the time, teaching kids how to box. In 1944, he was assigned to Fort Worth, TX where he did rehab work (physical activity) with shell-shocked soldiers. He also was involved with the USO while in Texas and met numerous celebrities that included Frank Sinatra, Dom Dimaggio, and tennis player Bobby Riggs. He was also privileged to meet Mother Teresa. In 1945, Charlie was assigned to the Philippines where he coached service teams and helped organize an All-Pacific Navy Olympics. He was honorably discharged from the service at Great Lakes in 1946. In 1946, Charlie applied for a teaching job at Auburn University where he taught physical education to the disabled and coached swimming until 1951. He also worked at summer camps for the handicapped in South Carolina. In 1952, Charlie applied for a leave to work on his doctorate at Indiana University, where he also served as a graduate teacher, research assistant, and met his future wife Lydia Mae who was attending nursing school. Charlie graduated from Indiana University in June 1953. During a visit to New London, Charlie received a notice from Indiana University regarding a position in the Physical Education department at Marquette University, which he accepted in 1953. His arrival at Marquette was postponed for several weeks to travel to South Bend, IN where he married Lydia Mae. Charlie remained at Marquette for nearly 32 years. He was the golf coach from 1954 to 1985 and served as the soccer team’s business manager from 1965 to 1975. Under Charlie’s tutelage, Marquette golf had their first women varsity players, including golf professional Mary Beth Nienhaus, a four-time Wisconsin state golf champion. Charlie enjoyed coaching what were at the time considered minor sports, citing the lack of pressure. “Nobody cares if we win or lose”, he joked. During his stay at Marquette, Charlie made many close friends and also was privileged to have Hank Aaron as a partner during several of his numerous handball workouts. After his retirement in 1985, Charlie occupied his time outside of family with golf (he had three holes-in-one during his life), fishing, walking, reading, traveling, and friends. Charlie was a devoted and loving husband and father and always considered himself a rich man because of his family, which he was very proud of and of what they accomplished. He was most happy when the family was together, and his happiest memories were from family camping and vacation trips as well as Christmas and other holidays. As children, we will never forget the visits from “Santa” when Dad came through the front door with a Ho! Ho! Ho! while Mom held us “captive” in the kitchen with the door closed as we jumped and hollered with excitement. Visitation was held at 10:00 a.m. on July 9, 2011 at St. Jude the Apostle Church, 800 Glenview Ave., Wauwatosa, with a memorial Mass that followed at 11:00 a.m. Burial was private at Most Precious Blood Church Cemetery in New London, WI. In lieu of flowers, memorials to Stars and Stripes Honor Flight, Inc. or St. Jude the Apostle Church are appreciated.