Charles L. Fidlar died on Dec. 14 at his home in Norfolk, Conn. with family by his side.

Charles was born in Terre Haute, Ind. and then moved to Hartford and Windsor, Conn. as a youth. He lived 17 years in the San Francisco Bay area before settling in Norfolk. He was born into a family of musicians and possessed immense talent as a violinist and singer.

He graduated from Loomis School in Windsor, Cornell University, the New England Conservatory of Music and pursued a Ph.D. in conducting at Stanford University. Among his many achievements in a long musical career, Charles was the founder and director of the West Bank Singers in West Hartford, music director for Gilbert and Sullivan principal comedian Martyn Green, choral director at Brown University, a member of the American Bach Soloists in San Francisco, and an assistant conductor at the San Francisco Symphony Chorus. He also taught chorus for many years at Northwestern Regional High School in Winsted, imparting his love of music to a new generation of young singers.

Along with his extraordinary career as an engaging conductor, music director, artistic director, theatrical performer, professor, Walt Whitman connoisseur, singer and vocal coach, an enthusiasm for adventure truly defined Charles’s spirit. Biking through the Western United States to Vancouver Canada at the age of 16 was just the beginning. He soloed Mount Whitney in his 40s, drove solo cross-country a few times, canoed anytime he had the opportunity, rowed crew, was a boxer, loved squash and an intense game of badminton. Charles began running long before it was popular. He was an athlete and an endlessly curious soul. He instilled that passion for adventure and his admiration of persistence into his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

His high school friends and college buddies were ever important to him. He cherished the friends he made in Norfolk. He first married Sue Frost Buxton and then his high school sweetheart, Marilyn (Sharp) Davidson, who understood him completely. Charlie, dad, grandpa will be missed immeasurably.

Aside from his wife, Marilyn, he leaves behind a sister, Karyl (Fidlar) Brod; a cousin, Alice (Fidlar) Fienning (husband Bill); his children, daughter Marilyn (Fidlar) Rodriguez (husband James), son Will Fidlar and step-daughter Elsa Davidson (husband Ali Bahrampour); a sister-in-law, Suzanne Sharp (husband David Giberson); his grandchildren, Karlee Dame, Nava and Giev Bahrampour and his great grandchildren, Makhai Santiago and Madison Dame.

A memorial service will be held at the Church of Christ Congregational, Norfolk, on Jan. 4 at 2 p.m. Reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Music Department, Northwestern Regional School District #7, Winsted, Conn., or hike to the top of Haystack Mountain on a full moon and think of him.