Colonel Charles H. Gobrecht III, 82, Died; Staples Grad, Air Force Veteran
Charles H. Gobrecht, III
December 7, 1939 - September 26, 2022
Hilton Head Island, South Carolina - We celebrate the vibrant and full life of Colonel Charles H. Gobrecht III, who passed away peacefully at home on Hilton Head Island, SC on September 26, 2022, with his loving wife Karen Gobrecht at his side. He was welcomed to Heaven by the Lord and by the spirit of his beloved daughter Heather G. Holcomb, who preceded him is death in 2014.
Charles was born in Philadelphia, PA on December 7, 1939, and graduated from Staples High School in Westport, CT. He was an alumnus of The College of William and Mary and upon graduation in 1962 entered the US Officer Training School at Lackland AFB, Texas. While there, he met and married a fellow lieutenant, Karen Marsh. They were assigned together to Kadena AB on Okinawa and traveled extensively throughout the Far East. Upon return to the US and completion of their master degrees at the University of Colorado, Charles served on the faculty for several years at the US Air Force Academy while Karen joined the faculty of the University of Colorado.
In 1974, Charles entered the Armed Forces Staff College in Norfolk, VA, and was later appointed the Air Force Representative to the US State Department's Senior Seminar in International Affairs. In 1978, he became Air Attache at the American Embassy in London, and in 1986 was the Air Force representative to the 40-nation Conference on Disarmament with rotating postings at the State Department in Washington, the United Nations, and Geneva, Switzerland.
Following his retirement from the Air Force in 1988, Charles followed his passion to enter the sports management business. In 1990 he became Director of Events for ProServ based in Arlington, VA. Two years later Charles became Chief Operating Officer of USA Volleyball, The US Olympic National Governing Body including men's, women's, and beach teams.
In 2005, Charles retired to Hilton Head where he was a faithful member of the First Presbyterian Church and its Sanctuary Choir. With a deep commitment to the community, Charles held leadership positions in the Military Officers Association of America, the Hilton Head Island Military Veterans Coalition, the Indigo Run Community Owner Association (10 Years), The Golf Club at Indigo Run, the Service Corp of Retired Executives (SCORE), and the Boys and Girls Club of Hilton Head.
Charles enjoyed the game of golf with friends and was known for his relentless exercise routine. He loved to travel. Always curious and ready for the next adventure, Charles lived a very rich life. He was kind, grateful and generous.
Charles will be forever loved and missed by his surviving wife Karen Gobrecht; son, Stephen Van Rensselaer Gobrecht; daughter-in-law, Marsha Hartmetz Gobrecht; son-in-law, Sean Joseph Holcomb; granddaughters, Rachel Elizabeth Gobrecht and Haley Ann Holcomb, and grandson, Ren Alexander Gobrecht.
Memorial services will be held at First Presbyterian Church on Thursday, October 20, 2022 at 2:00pm. Burial at Beaufort National Cemetery will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Charles's memory to the Boys & Girls Club of Hilton Head, P.O. Box 22267,
Hilton Head Island, SC 29925, or the charity of your choice. Islandfuneralhome.com.
Morning Weather Report
Today
Mostly sunny, with a high near 65. Light and variable wind becoming west around 5 mph.
Tonight
A 30 percent chance of showers after 2am. Increasing clouds, with a low around 48. Calm wind.
Tomorrow
Showers likely, mainly between 8am and 2pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 66. Light south wind becoming southwest 5 to 9 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Tomorrow Night
A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly after 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44. Southwest wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Wreckers Celebrate Homecoming With 42-21 Victory Over Danbury
The Wreckers offense celebrates in the end zone one of their six touchdowns.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
The stadium was packed for Friday night's homecoming game with a crowd that started out psyched for a win and the Staples Wreckers gave them what they wanted in a convincing fashion. A balanced offensive attack led the way for the Wreckers who are now 4-1. Staples defense was impressive, denying the Hatters any points on the scoreboard until early in the fourth quarter and the Wreckers went into the locker room with a 35-0 lead. Staples offense had nearly sealed the deal by the start of the fourth quarter with five touchdowns however Danbury rallied with a 60 yard kick-off return and a two point conversion and scored another TD a few minutes later. They continued to fight scoring their third touchdown with five minutes left to play.
Staples powerhouse offense included Junior QB Caleb Smith who scrambled for 2 TDs and Junior Alex Fiala who ran for 2 TDs as well. Senior Captain James Hillhouse had a touchdown reception as did senior Leo Sequenzia. Stifling the Hatters offense included an interception by Senior Captain Will Holleman and a second by senior Preston Norris as well. Staples ended the 1st half with a 35-0 lead.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery
Staples Homecoming Honors Seniors & Captains Of All Wreckers Sports
The homecoming tradition of honoring Staples seniors and the captains of all Wreckers sports teams was held at halftime of Friday nights victory over Danbury.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Morning Weather Report
Tonight
Mostly clear, with a low around 46. South wind 5 to 8 mph becoming west after midnight.
Tomorrow
Mostly sunny, with a high near 65. North wind 5 to 9 mph becoming west in the afternoon.
Tomorrow Night
A 30 percent chance of showers after 2am. Increasing clouds, with a low around 47. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Westport PD Participates in Distracted Driving Campaign
The Westport Police Department is participating in the Connecticut Department of Transportation’s high visibility distracted driving enforcement campaign. In partnership with State and local law enforcement and the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the campaign will increase efforts to enforce distracted-driving laws. This campaign will run from October 15th to October 31st, 2022.
Distracted driving is an activity that diverts attention from driving and even a momentary distraction can lead to disastrous results. In 2020, according to the NHTSA, distracted driving was a factor in over 8% of fatal car crashes. Further, the NHTSA reported that roughly 20% of injuries occurring in motor vehicle accidents involved distracted driving.
Connecticut law prohibits the use of any hand-held mobile device while operating a motor vehicle. Drivers who are currently 16 or 17 years old are prohibited from using a cell phone or mobile device at any time, even hands free.
Violating Connecticut’s distracted-driving laws can also be very costly. Drivers who are ticketed are fined $200.00 for the first offense, $375.00 for the second offense, and $625.00 for the third and subsequent offenses.
The Connecticut Department of Transportation along with the Westport Police urges you to put your phone down when you get behind the wheel. Should you need to use your phone prior to reaching your destination, please pull over to a safe location first.
Morning Weather Report
Today
A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly before 8am. Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 68. West wind around 9 mph.
Tonight
Mostly clear, with a low around 47. Calm wind.
Tomorrow
Sunny, with a high near 69. Calm wind becoming south 5 to 8 mph in the afternoon.
Tomorrow Night
Increasing clouds, with a low around 50. South wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Westporter Organizes Fundraiser for Big Brothers Big Sisters Organization
Press ReleaseThe annual Big Brothers Big Sisters of Connecticut’s Mentor’s Classic Golf Tournament was held this year at the historic Tamarack Golf Club in Greenwich. Pictured at the daylong event are, from left, Westport resident Joe Massoud, Managing Director at Westport-based Anholt Services (USA) Inc; Andy Fleischmann, President & CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Connecticut; and Peter Lovell, who lives in Milford and is a Senior Vice President and General Counsel for Odyssey Re in Stamford. Joe Massoud, a Board Member at Big Brothers Big Sisters and a current Big Brother (volunteer mentor) in the organization’s community-based program, was on the Mentor’s Classic organizing committee. He was also one of the event’s Emerald Sponsors. Peter Lovell also served on the event’s organizing committee. Lovell was a former Big Brothers Big Sisters Board Member, and a onetime Big Brother.
DPW Announces Main Street Closure Next Week for Paving
Public Works Director Peter Ratkiewich announced today that Main Street between Post Road and Avery Place and Avery Place between Main Street and Myrtle Avenue will be milled and paved beginning on Monday, October 17, weather permitting. Due to the nature of the congested area, Main Street will be closed to thru-traffic and parking starting at 5:00 AM and Avery Place will be closed to thru-traffic beginning at approximately 10:00 AM on October 17. Once road milling is complete, both roads will be re-opened to traffic until paving operations begin.
Paving of the two roads is currently scheduled for Tuesday, October 18. It will follow the same schedule as milling. However, a potential weather system may postpone paving until Wednesday, October 19.
Ratkiewich said “We will try our best to inform the Downtown Association and any affected residential tenants with street postings and message boards. We appreciate the cooperation of our residents and downtown businesses so that we can get this work done quickly and efficiently”
Motorists are advised to use caution and allow extra travel time in the Downtown area.
U.S. Riders Take First & Second Place at CSI Greenwich International Show Jumping Competition
Riders from around the world came to Greenwich Polo Grounds on Saturday to compete for winner’s ribbons and more than $300,000. in prize money and in the end two Americans finished in first and second place in this elite event.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery
Five time Olympian and two time gold medal winner McLain Ward from nearby Brewster, NY, grabbed first place astride Lezaro besting five other riders in the jump-off bringing home over $71,000.00. Edged out in second place, also with a no fault run and only 1/10 of a second back was fellow American Devin Ryan who rode Eddie Blue earning the more than $43,000.00 prize. Ward has been a legend in the sport who became the youngest rider in history to win $1,000,000, which he achieved at 24 years of age.A beautiful crisp fall day drew a very large crowd to this second CSI show and were treated to a tremendous display of beauty and grace from these talented riders and magnificent equines from both the U.S. and Canada, Great Britain, Columbia, Egypt and several other countries.
Competing once again in this second CSI Show in Greenwich was top-notch competitor Georgina Bloomberg, daughter of Michael Bloomberg who finished in ninth place.Last year's first place finisher Nayel Nassar did not fare so well this year riding 13-year-old Holsteiner gelding, Coronado finishing in 16th place in the CSI3 Grand Prix with 4 faults. CSI3 level competition challenges horse and rider who must jump fences just over five feet in height.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery
