Charles E. Spielman
January 15, 1938 – May 10, 2023
Charles E. Spielman, Age 85. U.S. Army Veteran
Beloved son of the late Jack and Bernice (nee Singer) Spielman.
Dear brother of James R. (late Carol) Spielman, Thomas E. (Judy) Spielman, Margaret (Dan) Boyce and the late Richard “Buddy” (Lynn) Spielman.
Loving uncle of Jack, Chuck, Cindy, Jim, Tom, Pam, Richie, Sarah, and the late Debbie.
Fond great-uncle to many.
Cousin Steve Satterfield, Military Chaplain, will be officiating.
Charles grew up in Chicago in Englewood. (In fact, his oldest brother, Jim, who lives in Evergreen’s Assisted Living and visits Charles often, was a Chicago Police Officer who served in Englewood for almost 30 years – and often brought toys and clothes to the children in his neighborhood). Charles loved to read so much,that a few of his teachers at Dewey Grammar School gave him their books when they finished reading them. His favorite book he ever received was a large dictionary and he excitedly tried to learn every single word.
Charles served in the United States Army for a few years after working at Kroger’s Grocery. While assigned to the White Sands missile range, he and a few fellow soldiers went on an archeological exploration in the New Mexico Indian dwellings and found some 7,500 pieces of pottery and artifacts. The Chicago Tribune published an article, with his photo, regarding their amazing find.
After the army, Charles studied at the University of New Mexico and received his Bachelor of Science and Master of Arts. Charles returned to Chicago and became The Metropolitan Sanitary District of Greater Chicago’s top Entomologist (‘bug scientist’), with a unique specialty in mosquitoes.
Charles later became a substitute teacher in Chicago, and then for a much longer period of time in Denver, Colorado. Charles loved teaching and paid his teachers’ kindness forward by giving his students books and dictionaries to encourage their love of learning.
Charles loved both Chicago and Colorado. In Chicago, Charles was a lifetime member of the Field Museum, the Museum of Science & Industry and Brookfield Zoo. In Colorado, he was a member of the Colorado Mountain Club – he loved hiking in the mountains. Charles was also a Wheat Ridge Parks & Recreation Commissioner.
Charles was an excellent swimmer and once saved a man’s life in Lake Michigan. Charles was a licensed scuba diver. He loved to travel, and even came across a grizzly bear while exploring in Alaska. Charles collected coins and stamps. He loved all things science, including movies and T.V. shows like Star Trek, with William Shatner, and the original “Quantum Leap” with Scott Bakula.
Charles was a professional clown – Cosmo. Charles always loving to make people smile and share the kindest words and laughter, had an even greater opportunity to do so through Cosmo. He appeared on Bozo Circus and was even considered to replace Bozo when Bob Bell retired.
Charles always hoped to marry. Charles didn’t but was the best uncle! He took his nieces and nephews to the circus, museums, drive-in movies, fishing, and even flew them to visit their grandparents in Colorado when they graduated grammar school. Charles would visit their house with pockets full of change and throw all the coins in the air for his nieces and nephews to collect to either spend or save in one of the crazy, cool animal banks he had given them as gifts.
Charles is a wonderful person, with an amazing heart and history. That’s why we loved
him so much.
Visitation Monday 9:00 a.m. until time of Service 11:00 a.m. at the Robert J. Sheehy & Sons Funeral Home, 9000 W. 151st Street, Orland Park, IL. A live stream link will be available just prior to the Service.
Interment Abraham Lincoln Cemetery
Please leave a memory for the family on Charles Tribute Wall; your stories will bring comfort to his family. www.sheehyfh.com 708-857-7878
May 15, 2023 – 11:00am cst
The live stream will begin about 10 minutes before the service starts. Please press the play button in the player above. You will see a screen stating that the live stream will begin shortly along with some soft music to make sure your speakers are working properly. Once the stream has ended, the video will be available to view once it has been uploaded. We recommend using Google Chrome, Safari, Firefox or Microsoft Edge web browsers. Internet Explorer may not work due to Microsoft’s discontinued support of the browser.