Necrology

Charles Edward Doran, Jr. '51

Mar. 31, 1928-Feb. 1, 2006

Charles Edward Doran, Jr. ’51, a retired corporate treasurer, was born on March 31, 1928, in Hartford, CT. The elder son of Charles E., an insurance company manager, and Josephine Maher Doran, he grew up in Port Chester, NY, and attended Port Chester High School, where he became president of the Student Council. Following his graduation in 1945, he enrolled at Hamilton. He joined Chi Psi and the staff of Hamiltonews, and went out for fencing. It was shortly before varsity fencing ended with the retirement of its much admired veteran coach, Jean Gélas.

After a year on the Hill, Charlie Doran decided to “serve his time for Uncle Sam” by enlisting in the U.S. Navy. He completed a two-year hitch as an aviation electronics technician before returning to the College in 1948. At the Chi Psi Lodge he became pledge instructor and scholarship chairman, and academically his fondness for historical study was rewarded with the Darling Prize in American History. Highly regarded by Dean Tolles for his conscientiousness and “alert, inquisitive, and thorough mind,” he was graduated Phi Beta Kappa and with honors in history in 1951.

With thoughts of carving out a career in academe, Charles Doran went on to graduate study in history at Yale University. However, after acquiring his M.A. degree in 1952, he decided, for financial reasons, to explore business-world opportunities instead. He began as a trainee at Hartford-Connecticut Trust Co. in Hartford, but soon moved on to a training program at General Electric Co. In the ensuing years he was appointed by GE to various financial management positions, including credit and collection supervisor for International GE in New York City.

Married to Anne M. McGovern on May 18, 1957, in Mt. Kisco, NY, and residing in Armonk, Charlie Doran left GE in 1965 to become assistant treasurer for the Collins & Aikman Corp., textile manufacturers headquartered in Manhattan. Promoted to corporate treasurer in 1971, he remained with the company until his retirement in 1988. During those years he was active in various professional organizations and served on the advisory board of the Arkwright-Boston Insurance Co.

Charles E. Doran, an ever loyal and supportive alumnus, was residing in Somers, NY, when he died on February 1, 2006. In addition to his wife of 48 years, he is survived by two sons, Charles F. and John F. Doran ’86; a daughter, Pamela Doran Connor ’87; four grandchildren, a sister, and a brother; and nieces and nephews, including Richard F. Kadlick ’79. All of them fondly remember Charles Doran as a devoted family man and “a true gentleman in every sense of the word.”

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