Mr. Charles "Charlie" Harris, Jr.

Army Veteran, Retired Waterbury Police Captain

WATERBURY – Charles “Charlie” Matthew Harris, age 86 of Waterbury, passed away peacefully in the comfort of his home on June 9, 2023, after a recent diagnosis of stage 4 esophageal cancer. He was the loving husband of Helga (Lorch) Harris of 61 years.

Charlie was born on July 22, 1936, in Waterbury, CT, the son of the late Charles and Hannah (Shea) Harris. He graduated from Sacred Heart High School, Class of 1954. Charlie proudly joined the United States Army on September 1, 1954, and served with the military police. He was stationed in Stuttgart, Germany and at the military district in Washington DC (MDW). He completed his active duty in February of 1959. Upon his discharge, Charlie joined the Waterbury Police Department where he served for 25 years, retiring at the rank of Captain in 1984. Charles was a decorated police officer, loyal colleague and committed to the city which he loved. Charles then began his second career as the Director of Security at Saint Mary’s Hospital and retired after 15 years of service. Not happy with retirement, he went on to work as a limousine driver with Expressway Auto in Waterbury, until their closure in 2018.

Charlie was a 4th Degree member of the Knights of Columbus and is a Past Grand Knight of Sheridan Council #24. He served 9 terms as a Grand Knight. He is also a life member of the BPOE Lodge of Elks No 265. He served on the Board of Directors of WARC for more than 25 years and served as a loaned executive to the United Way in 1993. He also served as Chairman of the Host Town Program of Waterbury for the 1995 Special Olympics World Games. He served for many years as an usher at Saints Peter & Paul Roman Catholic Church. Charlie was honored by the Waterbury Exchange Club with its Golden Deeds Award in 1995.

Charlie was an avid fan of the Boston Red Sox and the New England Patriots. He enjoyed playing cards and going to the horse races as well as trips to the casino. He was most happy when spending time with his family. Charlie met the love of his life, Helga, while stationed in Germany.

Left to honor his legacy and cherish his memory are his wife, Helga, his daughter, Debbie (Harris) Lusignan and her significant other, Bob Rinaldi, of Waterbury, grandson, Scott Lusignan of Middletown, granddaughter, Laura (Lusignan) Hayer, and her husband, Wes, of Plantsville, his great-grandson, Milo Hayer, as well as many cousins and close friends. Charlie was predeceased by his sister, Betty Ann Harris in 1949, and his son, Charles “Chuck” Harris in 1998.

The Harris family would like to extend a special thanks to Charlie’s hospice nurse, Marnee Fritz, RN, for her exceptional care and compassion, as well as Brian Bennett, for being such an amazing friend to Charlie and the Harris family over the years. Charlie will live on through the lives he touched and the memories he created. He was a source of inspiration and guidance to his family and friends and his memory will be cherished.

Funeral services for Mr. Harris will be held on Thursday, June 15, 2023, from Casey’s Eastside Memorial Funeral Home and Cremation Care, 1987 East Main St., Waterbury, to Mary, Mother of the Church Parish, Saint Leo the Great Church, 14 Bentwood Dr., Waterbury, to celebrate a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 a.m. Burial will be at the convenience of the family. Relatives and friends may visit with the Harris family on Thursday morning from 9:00 a.m. until leaving for the service at 10:30 a.m. To honor Charlie’s memory, and in lieu of flowers, donations to Waterbury PAL, www.waterburypal.org , would be appreciated by the Harris family. Loving-kindness is always welcome, and it only takes a moment to offer a message of condolence, words of comfort, or share a memory with the family and friends of someone important to you. Please visit the funeral home’s tribute page at www.caseyfunerals.com to do so.