Charles Rauch

Charles F. Rauch, Jr.
Glenburn
Charles Frederick Rauch, Jr. of Glenburn, Maine, best known as “Chick”, age 96 passed away on December 19, 2021.

Chick was born October 24, 1925 in Lancaster, Ohio, first born of Dr. Charles F. and Mary Catherine Rauch. He was very proud to be the son of Dr. Rauch who told Chick on numerous occasions “any job worth doing is worth doing right.” Chick’s early life revealed a path that seemed to incorporate this advice which he would follow at a young age and continue to follow the remainder of his life.

Chick’s early life prepared him well for the military career that would follow. He began to demonstrate his leadership, quiet intellect, and creativity as he became an Eagle Scout and member of the Order of the Arrow, the honor society of the Boy Scouts of America. He worked his way up to assistant manager at JC Penney while still a high school student, and graduated salutatorian of his high school class.

Following high school, Chick received an appointment to the US Naval Academy and was sworn in on June 21, 1944. In addition to his studies, he also pursued a serious photography interest, a fast tennis game, and worked as an advertising manager on the “The LOG” a humorous periodical published by Midshipmen for the enjoyment of the Brigade. Chick graduated from the US Naval Academy as Midshipman in 1947.

Chick’s formal Naval career began in 1947 serving on the light cruiser, the USS Huntington. He would later serve through 1966 on the following naval surface craft and submarines: USS Sanderling; USS Irex; USS Sterlet; USS Bluegill; USS Bergall; USS Swordfish; as Commanding Officer of the USS Skate; and as Commanding Officer of the USS John Marshall, a ballistic missile Polaris submarine. Chick’s personal life during these years saw his marriage to Diane Wilcox in 1951 and the birth of their son Fritz in 1955.

Chick was promoted to Navy Captain in July 1968 while serving at the Pentagon under Rear Admiral Zumwalt, Commander, US Naval Forces, Vietnam, and later Chief of Naval Operations. Zumwalt asked Chick to perform systems analyses for his staff while in Vietnam. Chick meanwhile was on crutches from a broken ankle sustained while playing with his son, Fritz. Chick stated “I told him I would think about it and get back to him. There is really no good reason why I should have gone with him to Vietnam, and there are at least 4 very good reasons why I had no business being over there: (1) I was still on crutches, not too great for getting around a war zone, (2) I scarcely knew where Vietnam was or anything about it, (3) I knew absolutely nothing about amphibious or riverine warfare, which is really what the Navy was doing in country, and (4) I really was not that good of a systems analyst; I had a good math background and a little bit of common sense in the analysis area, but I had no formal education in systems or operations analysis. So I called him back a day later and said yes, I would go.”

Chick then led the turnover of USS Navy assets to the Vietnamese Navy who after the war returned many of the craft to the US. Chick received much praise for his work and the Distinguished Service Medal from President Nixon in 1970.

Chick was promoted to Rear Admiral in 1971, making him among the youngest ever to achieve this rank.
Chick served the next 5 years as Manager, Human Relations Project and Asst. Chief of Naval Personnel for Human Resource Management, a new office established by Admiral Zumwalt, which would deal with command leadership, race relations and equal opportunity, intercultural relations, women’s rights, and substance abuse. Chick developed educational programs for each of these issues and his was the driving force opening up Naval leadership positions and Naval Academy acceptance for women.

While Chick was tackling these serious issues, his marriage to Diane ended. Not long after, he was asked by a hostess if would escort a bright, young lady, Esther Nettles, to a social function. The following is written in Chick’s own words. “That seemed to work out well, so I began escorting Esther to dinner and to music and other performing arts programs in Washington, D.C. That seemed to work out well, so we began going to church together and even drove to Ohio one weekend to see my parents. That seemed to work out well, so on April 25, 1975, we were married….That seemed to work out well, so I have been escorting her to dinner and to music and other performing arts programs in many parts of North and South America and Europe for over three decades and still counting.”

Chick retired from the Navy in 1976 and was awarded The Gold Star (this in lieu of a third Distinguished Service Medal). Prior to his military retirement he received multiple accolades throughout his career from Admirals Rickover, Nimitz, Zumwalt and others, evidence of the high regard in which he was held.

Following his accomplished US Naval career, Chick pursued academics at Ohio State University and was awarded an MBA in 1980 and a Ph.D. in business in 1981. During his University years he was a Teaching Associate, Research Associate and Administrative Associate and at the same time taught cross-cultural relations to the Columbus Police Academy. He had already achieved advanced degrees in mechanical and nuclear engineering.

Chick and Esther moved to Maine in 1981 and he began teaching Organizational Management and later Production Management at the University of Maine. After teaching three years he was invited to work in administration as Chief Financial Officer and served in this capacity for 12 years. Anecdotally Chick learned that he and System Chancellor, Pat McCarthy, had served on the USS Huntington together many years earlier as Private McCarthy and Ensign Rauch. Chick also consulted with Maine Maritime Academy designing its graduate level masters degree program in modules to accommodate US Merchant Marines’ sea going schedules. He also served briefly as University Maine Director of Athletics at a difficult time when recruiting practices were being scrutinized.

In 1991, Chick was the financial representative for a team of 5 who assessed the feasibility of establishing an American University in Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria. Chick’s assessment of an overwhelmingly positive response to this endeavor was to act quickly. The project was a success and Chick served briefly as President Pro-Tempore and later as a member of the Board of Trustees.

Following his University retirement in 1996, Chick continued his life of service-- to his church, the Navy League of the US, Rotary, The Audubon Expedition Institute and the Bangor Symphony. Many will also recall the wonderful wood carvings he made of carousel horses, lamps, and moose for charity auctions. He also created calendar books with photographs that he and Esther traveled near and far for him to achieve. Many will recall being lucky enough to receive one of the 21 years of these beautiful calendars he created to the end of his life.

Service is the word that describes Chick best. He demonstrated humility, humor, focus, intellect, courage and exemplary character. His was a rich and fulfilling life that when reflected thereupon could serve as an example to us all.

He also very much loved his family. His own words, “Of all the wonderful associations that I have enjoyed…..I cherish most the times I get to spend with Esther and Fritz and [my] family.”Chick is survived by his wife Esther N. Rauch of Glenburn, ME; son Fritz and wife Marguerite of North Stonington, CT; grandson Andrew of North Stonington, CT; brother, John E. Rauch and wife Norma of Columbus, OH; and cousin William J. Rauch and wife Judy of Buckeye Lake, OH.Chick’s corporal remains will be laid to rest with full military honors, at Arlington National Cemetery May 5, 2022 at 1:00pm. His spirit will always remain with those who loved him.

Thank you to our friend, Sandy Spiller, who graciously wrote this obituary.

Condolences to the family may be expressed at BrookingsSmith.com.