Navy veteran, family man, career banker. Born Sept. 7, 1924, in Montreal. Died Aug. 2 in Burlington, Ont., of complications from diabetes, aged 85.
Charlie Langston arrived in Westmount, Que., as the firstborn child of John and Isobel Mary Langston. He was often described as a miracle baby because his father was 60 and his parents were not sure a family was in the cards for them.
As a youth, Charlie led the Lewis Avenue gang, who met in the basement "clubhouse" of the Langston home. They would wait outside the Montreal Forum on father-and-son nights, when they could get in to see the Habs play for a special admission of 50 cents - as long as they could find and convince an "adopted" dad going to the game.
Charlie was a tough but devoted older brother to Catherine and Harry, and was often left to mind them when his parents went out to play bridge.
In 1943, Charlie joined the navy. He faced his father's death the same year.
Charlie served in the Battle of the Atlantic on the HMCS Mayflower. In recent years he recounted more of his navy memories, including the many hours spent chipping ice off the deck in frigid seas to keep the ship balanced.
After the war Charlie returned to Montreal, married Marge Armstrong, the love of his life, and joined the Bank of Commerce, as it was known at the time. Their only child, Susan, was born in Montreal in 1950. After postings in Winnipeg and New York, he was summoned to the head office in Toronto, where he ultimately became senior vice-president of international banking at CIBC.
Charlie travelled the world for the bank, building its global business and making friends at every stop. A busy banking day in Toronto nearly always ended on time for Charlie, with a sprint to the GO train. Only rarely was a dinner with Marge and Susan missed. Charlie and Sue always took on the after-dinner cleanup, debating the important topics of the day.
Charlie and Marge shared a love of gardening and spent many hours cultivating flowers and growing vegetables. In addition to manicuring his own garden, over the years he helped Susan landscape her homes. Always generous with his love for his family, he taught his grandchildren, Diane and Jeff, the finer points of skipping rope, model railroading, sledding down a frozen hill, enjoying a family meal and swimming in his backyard pool.
After Charlie's retirement in 1984, Agnico-Eagle Mines needed his expertise. Charlie served as a board member for 15 years, stepping up to board chairman after the death of the company founder.
Life's challenges were many for Charlie but he always started and finished every day with a smile. He treated me like the son he never had and I am blessed to have shared the last 45 years of his life.
By Dane Carmichael, Charlie's son-in-law.