Charles Michael McGivney (“Chuck”) of Hamburg, N.J., passed away on Monday, Sept. 7, 2020, in Hackensack, N.J., due to congestive heart failure. He was 87.
Chuck was born in the Bronx, N.Y., to James and Margaret (Galligan) McGivney, who had immigrated from County Cavan, Ireland. Chuck was raised in the Bronx, attended Power Memorial High School and paid for his schooling by working on a newspaper delivery truck for The Wall Street Journal.
Chuck joined the Navy in 1952 after a brief stint at Fordham University and served in the Korean War. He began his naval career as a Seaman First Class aboard the USS Chewaucan (AOG-50) a Patapsco-class Gasoline Tanker. He served as a radar technician and successfully guided his ship and crew through many perilous storms and military conflicts. Chuck was elevated to the rank of RD3, was awarded The National Defense Service Medal, The Good Conduct Medal and the Navy Occupation Service Medal. At the end of his active duty the Captain of the Chewaucan recommended that he attend the Navel Academy in Annapolis and pursue a naval career as an officer, but he declined the honor and elected to resume his studies at Fordham University where he continued to serve on inactive duty until his Honorable Discharge from the Navy on May 6, 1960.
Upon returning to Fordham University he met Theresa Sherbinski on the first day of school, while registering for classes, and instantly began a lifelong devotion and love affair. Chuck was active in the Veterans Club and was elected president of the Marketing Club, while also working as a night-time reconciliation clerk for Hanover Bank in order to support himself.
Chuck and Theresa were married on Oct. 8, 1960, and began his lifelong dream and commitment to raising a loving family. Chuck’s career in business brought him all around the country and to numerous corporations as he rose from a salesman at Addressograph Multigraph to the president of Black Magic Potting Soil Company. Chuck developed a specialty in mass marketing and became an expert in turning around struggling companies. At the end of his professional career he was the vice-president of sales and marketing for the Burgoyne Greeting Card Company, which specialized in Christmas cards. Chuck successfully guided and expanded the small regional company into the national market and helped establish it as the premier Christmas card company in country.
Shortly after his retirement in 2001 Chuck was stricken with lung cancer, which he fought and overcame with the help of his faith in God, devotion to Mary, and a tenacious belief that he still had a yet-unknown service to render in life. Chuck discovered his new purpose in helping other cancer patients, through the organization known as the Cancer Hope Network, which pairs people suffering with cancer with other cancer survivors. Chuck found great joy in counseling and encouraging others to not lose hope as they battle their disease. Chuck was recognized for his dedication and commitment to other cancer patients and received the Flame of Courage Award from the Cancer Hope Network in 2012, but he would be the first to say that the opportunity to help others was the greatest honor he received. Chuck was a Fourth Degree member of the Knights of Columbus and an attending member of the Perpetual Adoration Program.
Chuck is survived by his loving family: wife, Theresa (Sherbinski) McGivney; his children and their spouses, Chuck ans Randi (Pollack) McGivney, Larry McGivney and La Nguyen, Mike and Debi (Kelly) McGivney and his daughter, Terri, and Matt Skelton; grandchildren and their spouses, Lauren (McGivney) Armenia and Iggy Armenia, Colin and Sydney (Link) McGivney, Benjamin Skelton, Sophia Skelton, Liam Skelton, Madeleine McGivney, and Madison McGivney.
Chuck is predeceased by his parents, James and Margaret; and his siblings, Peter, James, and Teresa.
A Memorial Mass was held Sept. 11 at St. Jude the Apostle Roman Catholic Church in Hardyston, N.J. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Cancer Hope Network. Arrangements are under the direction of the F. John Ramsey Funeral Home, Franklin, N.J.