Charles G. Parry, sailing school founder

Charles George Parry, 74, formerly of Medford, a retired insurance executive, an avid sailor, and founder of the Rock Hall Yacht Club Sailing School, died of bladder cancer Friday, Dec. 3, at home in Chestertown, Md.

Mr. Parry was with Reliance Insurance Co. for 36 years in offices in North Jersey, Detroit, New York, Haddonfield, Radnor, and Philadelphia. He became a chartered property and casualty underwriter in 1975 and retired as Reliance's senior compliance officer in Philadelphia in 2000.

Mr. Parry grew up in Moorestown and summered in Seaside Park, where he learned to sail.

He and his wife, Linda Platt Parry, lived in Medford for 25 years before moving to Chestertown in 2001. The next year, he became commodore of the Rock Hall Yacht Club. During his tenure, he established the sailing school for children 5 to 14. He taught more than 600 students, who called him "Mr. Chuck," his wife said. Among them were children with learning disabilities.

One of his proudest achievements was bringing the USA Junior Olympic Chesapeake Bay Open Sailing Festival to the Rock Hall club in July, his wife said.

A craftsman, he built boats ranging in size from dinghies to a 26-foot keel boat.

A lifelong Quaker, Mr. Parry was a descendant of James Logan, William Penn's secretary. He graduated from Moorestown High School and earned a bachelor's degree from Colgate University, where he was a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity and competed on the sailing team. After graduating, he served in the Navy in Newport, R.I., and aboard the aircraft carrier Intrepid.

In addition to his wife of 46 years, Mr. Parry is survived by a son, Albert; daughters Vanessa Ross and Kathryn Mathis; two sisters; and seven grandchildren.

A memorial service will be at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 17, at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 7579 Sandy Bottom Rd., Chestertown, Md. Donations may be made to the Rock Hall Yacht Club Sailing School, Box 163, Chestertown, Md. 21620.