SHUTESBURY – Charles Davis Read, 16, of Old Orchard Road passed away suddenly and unexpectedly at home on August 15, 2016. He had spent the last weeks of his life happily connected with extended family on Cape Cod and with his friends and family at home. 

Charlie was born in Northampton on May 31, 2000 and has been loved and cherished by his family, by his Old Orchard Road neighbors, and by his community of Shutesbury. He was educated at Shutesbury Elementary School and at Amherst Regional Middle and High Schools.

Charlie loved sports and began playing hockey with the Amherst Hockey Association and baseball with Amherst Baseball. He eventually enjoyed playing both sports for his high school teams as well. He aspired to become a counselor at the Morse Hill Outdoor Education Center. 

Charlie was a great friend, a sensitive spirit, had a wonderful sense of humor and a smile that could light up a room, and above all had an unflagging perseverance. Throughout his life, Charlie’s family, his devoted teams of teachers, his coaches, his friends, teammates, camp and his youth group have been essential in shaping his extraordinary character.

Besides his parents Clifton and Arleen and his sister Susan, he is survived by his paternal grandmother Charlotte Brooks Read of Concord, his aunt Martha Read of Belmont, his aunt Susan and uncle Ken Read-Brown of Hingham, his uncle Roger and aunt Lynn Peterson Read of Belmont, his aunt Kathy Wall of Wilson NC, his uncle Tom and aunt Kathy Wall of Frenchtown NJ, his aunt Bonnie and uncle Burt Logan of Bexley OH, his aunt Jeannette Wall of North Plainfield NJ, his beloved cousins Sandra Begley with her husband Neil and their son Lowell; Adam Read-Brown and his wife Daniella Schmidt, Eliza Read-Brown, Willis Read-Button, Colin Read, Hannah Read, Mark Logan and his daughter Corrin, Garrett Logan, and Sean Logan, and his dear friends Luke, Eric, Anna and Piper. We have all been blessed to have had him in our lives. He is predeceased by his paternal grandfather Charles Rodes Read, and his maternal grandparents Thomas and Anne (Marcinkiewicz) Wall. 

A celebration of Charlie’s life will be held at a date to be announced later. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Amherst Baseball (PO Box 3501 Amherst 01004), the Epilepsy Foundation (www.epilepsy.com), or the Charlie Read Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o Morse Hill Outdoor Education Center, 65 Wentworth Manor Dr. Amherst, MA 01002 Attn. Victoria Shaw.