Long-serving Trustee and former Chairman of the Board Charles “Chuck” Goering passed away peacefully on Thursday, March 30 surrounded by his family.
He is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Caroline, and four children Richard (Eleanor) Goering of Fort Mitchell, KY; Meg Goering Ward of Trussville, AL; Ann (Sharon Hopper) Goering of Burlington, VT; and Addison (Jody) Goering of Bourbonnais, IL.
Chuck was born on May 23, 1929 in Cincinnati, OH. He graduated from Hughes High School in 1946 and from Wabash in 1951.
While at Wabash, he majored in economics and was a proud member of Beta Theta Pi. He also sang in the Glee Club. He was elected to the Wabash College Board of Trustees in 1986 and served through 2000. He was Chair of the Board of Trustees from 1990 through 1998. Chuck’s strong leadership of the College and Board after the coeducation study in the early 1990s helped pave the way for $136 million Campaign for Leadership, Wabash’s most successful comprehensive capital campaign. The College honored his service with the Alumni Award of Merit and an Honorary Degree
After graduating from Wabash, Chuck earned his MBA from Harvard Business School in 1952. He and Caroline were married that year, and Chuck then served in the Navy from 1952 to 1956. He was a savvy businessman, and owned Erlanger Lumber Company, which served the Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky area, until its sale in 1991.
In addition to his generous philanthropy at Wabash, Chuck also served as Chair of the Advisory Board for The United Way of Greater Cincinnati. His work with the local community was focused on families, children and education.
Chuck and Caroline loved to travel the world, and they visited Europe, Australia, Antarctica, Africa, Russia, Galapagos Islands, all over the US and Canada, as well as the Virgin Islands, where they spent many winters. They spent summers on Caspian Lake in Greensboro, VT with family and friends.
In lieu of flowers donations can be sent to:
Children's Inc., 333 Madison Avenue, Covington, KY 41011, www.childreninc.org
Heartbeet Farm, 218 Townfarm Road, Hardwick, VT 05843, www.heartbeet.org
Wabash College, Advancement Office, P.O. Box 352, Crawfordsville, IN 47933, www.givingatwabash.edu.
Cremation rites have been accorded and a memorial celebration is planned for a date to be determined in May.