In Memory of Charles K. Gravenhorst, Sgt, C Co. 407th Infantry Regiment, 102nd Infantry Division

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Obituary: ​Charles K. Gravenhorst, 93, Formerly Of Northport

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By Paige McAtee, Patch Staff | Jun 4, 2018 5:07 pm ET

Charles K. ("Charlie") Gravenhorst, a decorated World War II veteran, graduate of Princeton University, former advertising vice president specializing in international airline travel, husband of more than 65 years to Ellen Slatt Gravenhorst and devoted father, departed this life on Thursday evening, May 17, 2018, less than two weeks shy of his 94th birthday, in Sebastopol, California.

Enlisting in 1943, and serving as Cannon Company Sergeant in the 407th Infantry Regiment, 102nd Infantry Division ("Ozarks") of the U.S. Army, he was awarded numerous decorations for action in World War II including the Bronze Star for heroic achievement during the Battle of the Bulge.

Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, he attended Polytechnic Preparatory Country Day School ("Poly Prep"), class of 1942, and went on to graduate magna cum laude with the Princeton University class of 1946, majoring in History and with an undergraduate thesis focusing on the second Grover Cleveland administration.

With a background in photography, he had an accomplished career of over 30 years in print, radio and television advertising in New York City—beginning as an account executive with Benton & Bowles, Inc. and then vice presidents with Gaynor & Ducas, Gordon & Shortt, Inc. and Bozell & Jacobs, Inc.—supervising client accounts such as IBM, Crosley, SAS, BEA, Eastern and Northeast ("Yellowbird") Airlines, Montreal's Expo '67, and many others, which took him around the world from Sweden to South Africa, Rome to Iran, and Montreal to Miami when not commuting daily on the Long Island Rail Road.

Married at the Garden City Hotel in 1952, he and Ellen raised four children on Long Island, making their home first in Flushing Meadows, then in Garden City, Northport and finally Huntington, before relocating in retirement to Rohnert Park, California to be near family.

He was a perennial tomato gardener, crossword puzzle wiz—he did the New York Times crossword puzzle in ink—and devoted fan of New York sports beginning with the Brooklyn Dodgers and then the New York Mets, Jets, Knicks, Rangers and Islanders. His bright smile, clear blue eyes, energy, wit, wisdom and intelligence will be greatly missed. His life made a tremendous impression.

In addition to his wife, Ellen Edith Eleanor Slatt Gravenhorst, 90, he is survived most immediately by his son Charles Andrew Gravenhorst, 61, of Belmont, New Hampshire, daughters Diana Louise Gravenhorst Jelenic, 57, of Novato, California, Priscilla Anne Gravenhorst Butler, 54, of New York City, and grandchildren Claire Louise Gravenhorst Garrett, 25, of Raleigh, North Carolina, Elijah Charles William Gravenhorst, 22, of Belmont, New Hampshire, and Amelia K. Butler, 16, of New York, New York. Charles was pre-deceased December 31, 2013, by his first son, Dwight Allen Gravenhorst, who died in Las Vegas at age 59.

He will be interred at the Gravenhorst family lot in Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, New York.