Charles Curtis Pease

Captain Charles (Charlie) Pease, USN (Ret.) was born on September 5th,1936 in Worcester, Massachusetts. The son of an Episcopalian minister, the Pease family moved west to Yuma Arizona and then to San Francisco where Charlie’s father served in the Red Cross during World War II. After the war, they moved to San Clemente for two years and then settled in Fullerton, California. In 1955, he entered the Naval Academy as a member of the class of ‘59. On leave in 1958 he met his future wife, Susan (Suzi) Ray of Orinda, CA. Their romance blossomed and following graduation from the academy and flight school they were married in December 1960.

Charlie’s 26-year naval career spanned the most perilous years of the Cold War. In the early years, he served as a seaplane pilot patrolling the western Pacific, then earned a master’s degree in the new field of Operations Research. He served aboard the USS Kitty Hawk as Assistant Navigator and Preventive Maintenance Officer, then continued his aviation career as a P3 pilot, tracking Soviet nuclear submarines in the North Atlantic and Mediterranean. During this period, he flew in Patrol Squadron 45 and later commanded Patrol Squadron 16. In the late 70's, while assigned to NATO's southern headquarters, Charlie planned and assessed multinational exercises in the Mediterranean. His last duty assignment was at the Pentagon’s renowned Office of Net Assessment (ONA). While at ONA, Charlie and his CIA co-author wrote the lead volume of the1983 top-secret US and Soviet Strategic Forces Net Assessment.

After retirement, Charlie continued his career as a Naval Analyst for the United Technologies Corporation Study Group, and Senior Cost Analyst for the EG&G proposal group, before starting his own cost proposal consulting business.

During his years in the Navy, the family moved frequently between coasts and oversees, including the Philippines and Naples, Italy. They lived in the Beverly Hills neighborhood of Alexandria, VA during his first assignment to the Pentagon in the mid-60’s and then returned in 1979, where Charlie and Suzi lived until moving to Falcons Landing in 2014, which Charlie liked to say was “the cruise ship that never moves”.

Charlie and Suzi loved to travel, visiting every continent except Antarctica during their 63 year marriage. In addition to multiple European adventures, they also visited Australia, New Zealand, Japan, China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, India, South Africa, Israel, Syria, Egypt and Peru.

Charlie was also an avid tennis player, participating in multiple tennis groups. He had a reputation for having a “wicked underspin” and was known for his great sportsmanship on the court. He joined the walking group at Falcons and was an ambassador for the community, welcoming new residents with a smile and firm handshake. He was also known for his gentle and kind nature and was a great hugger, especially during his final months at Falcon’s memory care unit.

Charlie passed peacefully on June 12th, surrounded by his loving family. He is survived by his wife, Suzi, his children Michael and Jennifer, their spouses Leslie and Scott, and grandsons Nathan and Ben, and sister Dorothy.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, August 3, 2024 at 1 pm at Grace Episcopal Church, 3601 Russell Road, Alexandria, Virginia 22305.

The family would like to honor his memory through donations to the Alzheimer's Association and Insight Memory Care in Fairfax, Virginia. (see the links below)