No one lived life larger than Charles Plum, aka “Charlie” (aka Phil, Phip, Phippins, Phil-pa, Chuck). Math genius, computer scientist, skier, motorcyclist, joker, Dad, Brother, Grandfather, and Friend. Charlie left this world on Saturday, August 24th at 11:55 am. He was born on 5-11-55 and the synchronicity of those numbers would have delighted him. Charlie was a math whiz from childhood, programming with his father (also Charles) mainframe Honeywell Computers at the age of seven. He followed in his father’s footsteps and became a Computer Scientist, initially working as a Research and Development Engineer at MIT Lincoln Laboratory, then as a Research Fellow at Nichols Research Corporation, as a Principal Software Engineer at Boston Communications, and ultimately as a Principal Computer Scientist at Nuance/Severance Corporation.

Charlie could analyze and solve any math or computer problem that was put in front of him. He was the person everyone sought on the job to crack codes and solve impossible digital challenges. His family and co-workers thought of him as a genius. His brain was a spectacular instrument. On Saturday, August 17th at noon, he was struck by a car while riding his motorcycle in Bethel, Maine and that beautiful brain was damaged beyond repair.

Charlie was famous for his humor, practical jokes, and quick wit. He was an expert skier, and spent much of the last ten years at his home in Bartlett, NH, enjoying the thrill of the slopes at Wildcat, Attitash, and Bretton Woods. He loved skiing with his two daughters, Colleen McMillan and Sara Plum; his grandchildren, Madelyn and Brennan; and his son-in-law, Paul McMillan.

Charlie recently became the Safety Officer of his motorcycle club, The Mt. Washington Valley Riders, and was an official member of the SKIMOS, a Jackson, NH ski club, since 2011; however, he had long-time skiing friendships with many of them starting at the “Chicken Coop” in the 1980’s. Charlie adored the camaraderie of the members of both groups, and looked forward to their weekly Friday night dinners at the Shannon Door. Last year, Charlie was particularly proud of an epic drone video he created of sixty SKIMOS kayaking on the Androscoggin River, underscoring the video with “Whiter Shade of Pale.”

Charlie loved the woods and the mountains, and found hiking the trails of NH and Maine endlessly fascinating. He also delighted in the hummingbirds that visited him seasonally, dive bombing his porch to get to his several feeders while being recorded by his “hummingbird cam.”

Charlie loved a good meal with friends and family, and was a tireless and generous gift-giver. He was so loved, so admired, so cherished, and it is hard to imagine that huge presence and hilarious fun-loving personality taken from us.

Charlie was born in Lynn Mass, educated at St. Mary’s, Our Lady of the Assumption, and Lowell Technologies Institute. He leaves his daughters, Sara Plum and Colleen McMillan; son-in-law Paul McMillan; grandchildren, Brennan and Madelyn McMillan; his sister, Paula Plum Snee and brother-in-law Richard Snee, and former wife, Elizabeth Donahue Plum.

A Memorial visitation will be held on Saturday, August 31, 2024 from 2-5 pm at the Solimine Funeral Home, 426 Broadway (Rt. 129), Lynn, MA. A Celebration of Life for family and friends to share personal stories of Charlie will be held on Saturday, September 14, 2024 at The Red Fox Bar and Grille, 49 NH-16, Jackson, NH, from 1-5 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations in Charlie’s memory may be made to the White Mountain National Forest “Plant a Tree Program” at https://plantatree.fs.usda.gov/tree-donation.