Charles J. Dougherty, Teamsters organizer

Charles J. "Bruz" Dougherty of Clifton Heights, a Teamsters organizer who established a hunting club, died Saturday, the day after his 71st birthday, at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania of complications from a fall at home.

Mr. Dougherty grew up in Fairmount. His sister Dorothy Kmat called him Bruz because she couldn't pronounce brother when she was little, and the name stuck.

After graduating from Southeast Catholic High School, now St. John Neumann, Mr. Dougherty spent four years with the Merchant Marines. He then became a truck driver for area companies including Pepsi, Hires Root Beer, and Airborne Express. He was a shop steward and union organizer for Teamsters Local 107 in Philadelphia and was also active with Teamsters Local 500 in Philadelphia. He retired in 2000.

Since 1959, Mr. Dougherty had been married to Gertrude McMonagle Dougherty. He taught their nine children, as well as their grandchildren, nieces and nephews, and their children's friends, to ski and hunt, his family said. In 1972, he and his brother-in-law, Jim Leahan, founded a hunting club, F-Troop. The club has more than 100 members who participate in annual big game hunts in the Poconos and Potter County.

Mr. Dougherty was a member of the Knights of Columbus.

In addition to his wife and sister, he is survived by daughters Karen Schieler, Sharon Mulgrew, Terri D'Antonio, Nancy Tierney, and Heather DeStefano; sons Charles, Shawn, Kevin, Joseph; another sister; a brother; 28 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Friends may call from 5 to 9 p.m. today and from 9 to 9:30 a.m. tomorrow at O'Leary Funeral Home, 640 E. Springfield Rd., Springfield. A Funeral Mass will be said at 10 a.m. tomorrow at St. Eugene Church, 200 Oak Ave., Primos. Burial will be in SS. Peter and Paul Cemetery, Marple Township.