Roll Call Tribute

Charles Blake "Charlie" Bragassa 

July 10, 1931 - November 29, 2023 

Charles Blake Bragassa of Crestone, Colorado, was born July 10, 1931 and died November 29, 2023 in Fort Collins, Colorado at the age of 92.

Charles was born in Richmond, Virginia to Edward and Minnetta (Houck) Bragassa. He moved to Texas at fourteen when Minnetta married Howard Robichaux after her divorce from Edward. Charles would later say Howard Robichaux "saved my life. I had never met a person so full of life like him.” He grew up in an oil camp near McAllen, Texas where he attended high school. He went on to enroll at Texas A&M University and pursue a double major in Biology and Linguistics. To complete his ROTC obligation, he entered the United States Air Force, became a pilot and was promoted to Captain a ferrying squadron moving airplanes globally.

It was on one of these ferrying missions Charles met the love of his life, a bonnie lass from the small Scottish village of Ayr, Elizabeth Differ Anderson. Three months later, they married on May 31, 1955 in Ayr. In their first three years of marriage, Charles retired from the Air Force, returned to Texas A&M where he earned a degree in Statistics, a Masters in Zoology and a Doctorate in Genetics and they welcomed three children, Anne, Danny and John.

After graduate school, Charles moved his family to Augusta, Georgia where he became the Director of the Genetics Department and the Director of the Computer Center at the Medical College of Georgia. In 1963, their fourth child, Jane was born. In the late 1970’s, he and his family moved to Colorado. In the later decades of his career, he worked as a data processing consultant for the Federal Government. Throughout his life, the breadth of Charles’ considerable interests were reflected in several entrepreneurial pursuits such as Charlie’s Chili Mix which he developed and marketed to popular acclaim.

He was an avid sojourner. There was nothing he loved more than traveling, meeting new people and immersing himself in their cultures. He was in the Amazon jungle just months before his passing! He had an endless intellectual curiosity and spent his life learning and exploring. He passed on his love of travel and intellectual curiosity to his four children, eleven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Charles was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Elizabeth and survived by his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. His daughter, Anne and Bobby Nowell, their children, Amber, Ryan and Alex. His son, Dan, his wife Veronica and their children, Jordan, Dylan and Lauren Bragassa. His son, John and his children, Bailee, Jahil and Joshua and great-grand daughters, ZayLynn and Lorana. His daughter, Jane and her children, Samantha and Angeline Rivas and great-grandson, Matthew. He is also survived by his younger brother, Bruce Bragassa of California.

Charlie, the intrepid traveler, was a committed friend, devoted husband, beloved father, grandfather and great-grandfather who will be sorely missed by his family and friends.