NEW BEDFORD — Charles Forbes DeMailly passed away peacefully on April 10, 2017. He was born Nov. 7, 1918, in Boston, MA to E. Claire Forbes DeMailly, originally of New Bedford, MA, and Charles Girard DeMailly, originally of Paris, France. Both parents were musicians. His father was 2nd flautist with the Boston Symphony Orchestra until his untimely death in 1920.
Charles F. DeMailly was a business leader & entrepreneur:
He was president, CEO and majority stockholder of PCI Group, Inc., a New Bedford-based diversified business which owned and operated J.C. Rhodes Co. in New Bedford and other plants in New Hampshire, New York, Massachusetts and Canada, which produced a variety of metal fastener products and shoe industry supplies.
Previous to his tenure with PCI, Mr. DeMailly was president and director of the Plymouth Cordage Company and was, for a brief time, executive vice-president of Emhart Corporation, a Fortune 500 company that ultimately merged with Black and Decker. Following his retirement from PCI Group, Mr. DeMailly was chairman of Rex Cut Products of Fall River, MA and active as an investor and developer of real estate in the Greater Boston Area.
He graduated from New Bedford public schools and earned the Bachelor of Science degree in Business and Engineering Administration from MIT, class of 1940. After college, he was on active duty in the U.S. Army as an ordnance officer. Following WWII, he retired from active and reserve military service with the rank of Major.
From a young age, he enjoyed many avocations. He was active in music circles, performing as flautist in many chamber music ensembles, as well as in the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra. In addition, he earned a Teacher’s Certificate in Solfeggio from the New England Conservatory of Music. At MIT he enjoyed choral singing and writing for MIT’s humor publication, “Voo-Doo,” of which he was General Manager in his senior year. He enjoyed sailing and racquet sports for most of his long life. As a longtime active member of the New Bedford Yacht Club, he sailed and raced his one-design boats in his young years and enjoyed his cruising boats in later years.
He was also a member of the Algonquin Club of Boston, the New Bedford Wamsutta Club and the Anthony Beach Association, which is adjacent to what was his Forbes grandparents’ summer cottage known as “Broadmeadows.”
His family would like to thank the staff of Brookdale Dartmouth Village and New Bedford Jewish Convalscent Home for their wonderful care while their father was there.
Mr. DeMailly is survived by his three children and their spouses: Charles, Jr.(Judith Russell) of Mattapoisett, MA; Claire Prohl(Edward) of Somers, NY; Marianne Barbera (Kevin) of Arlington, MA; his step-daughter and her husband, Joyce and David Zemina of Marston’s Mills, MA; and 8 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.
His first wife, E. Eleanore Clark DeMailly, and his second wife, Beatrice White DeMailly, and his step-daughter, Gail Norris, predeceased him.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Charlie’s memory to the New Bedford Whaling Museum. Arrangements are with the WILSON CHAPEL, 479 County St., New Bedford, MA. www.wilsonchapel.net