Ilene Charles, a longtime resident of Provincetown, passed away unexpectedly on March 4, 2017. A talented artist in oils and encaustic, she had been co-owner of Charles-Baltivik Gallery at 432 Commercial Street since 1996, and was an enthusiastic supporter of gallery artists and her adopted town.
Ilene was born in the Bronx on April 2, 1952 and attended local schools. She graduated from NYU with a Masters in Social Work, and was the Director of Social Work at Horton Hospital in Middletown, New York. She moved full time to Provincetown from Central Valley, New York, in 2000, and married her partner Katherine Baltivik in Provincetown in 2005.
She enjoyed kayaking in the harbor, painting and life drawing, participating in and attending productions at the Provincetown Theater, walking their dogs in the woods, and she relished eating sushi at Mac's. Ilene was very proud of the mural she painted with a friend at the Recreation Department of the Veteran's Memorial Community Center on Mayflower Street in Provincetown.
Ilene is survived by her wife Katherine, her gallery family, and her beloved poodles, Jacques and E'Behr, as well as a far-flung and loving community of friends. Her dog Rembrandt, whom she always referred to as the love of her life, predeceased her.
A Graveside Service for Ilene will be at 10:00 am, Friday May 5th at Provincetown Cemetery. Friends are invited to attend. In the event of inclement weather, the service will be held at the Duarte Chapel in St. Peters Cemetery.
You may choose to honor Ilene with a donation to Alzheimer's Support Center of Cape Cod, 2095 Maine Street, Brewster MA 02631.