MOULTONBOROUGH ---- Charles “Chuck” Kimball Estano, Sr., 98, peacefully passed away on Sunday, November 12, 2023, at Golden View Health Care Center in Meredith, NH.
Chuck was born January 12, 1925, in Boston, MA to Frederick and Minnie (Kimball) Estano. He leaves behind his wife of 68 years, Gail, and his children.
He was a walking piece of history. 98 years young, healthy, cognitively sharp with the memory of an elephant with a lifetime of stories. He and his beloved wife lived independently until recently in their 250-year-old home, still mowing his lawn and holding yard sales, not only to sell items that he acquired but to meet people and talk with them. Chuck had the “gift of gab”. He would strike up a conversation with anyone and everyone. He was genuinely interested in the lives of the people he would meet. His charisma would light up whatever room he walked into. He would be quick with a joke or a story to put those around him at ease and feel welcomed.
He was a proud member of the Masons for over 70 years and the oldest active Mason in the State Of New Hampshire. He served as Honorary Past Master of Chocorua Lodge and Red Mountain Lodge in Sandwich, District Education Office and Grand Historian. He was also awarded the John Sullivan Award, the highest honor awarded to an outstanding Mason.
He was one of 15 children having lived in South Boston. He was one of 8 boys who served in WWII. All safely returned home. He was a tail gunner in a B-24 in the Pacific Theater. He was the sole survivor when his plane was shot down near Iwo Jima. He was plucked out of the Ocean by the USS Helena. It was to his utter surprise (and others on board) that his brother John, who was the official photographer on that vessel.
Chuck was a professional storyteller; he would tell stories about fictional “Uncle Danny” from Ireland. Despite the last name, Chuck was mostly Irish. A square dance caller, Justice of the Peace, Town Moderator and a prolific actor playing the lead in many classic plays.
He was a big Civil War Buff. He would often tell his family “All roads go through Gettysburg”. He took part in the Centennial reenactment serving as Commander Of the 9th Mass Battery in 1963 in Gettysburg.
He was the Chief Investigator of Massachusetts serving under Elliot Richardson, stating, “he was the best boss I have ever had”. When Richardson joined the Nixon administration, he decided to retire and move to NH.
He loved to putter in his shop making furniture for friends and family. Once he made 700 wooden toys to be distributed to children's hospitals.
A graveside service will be held Saturday, May 25, 2024, at 11:00am at Middle Neck Cemetery, Schoolhouse Road, Moultonborough, NH.
Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services/603Cremations.com, 164 Pleasant St., Laconia, NH, 03246 is assisting the family with arrangements. For more information and to view an online memorial, please visit wilkinsonbeane.com.