Charles Roger Khoury Jr.

Many of us probably knew Charlie Khoury, at least by sight, as he jogged along the streets of Del Mar and the beach with his distinctive shock of curly white hair, his lean frame, his red suspenders.

Unexpectedly, Charlie died on November 15, 2022, at the age of 83, leaving many heartbroken friends, law colleagues, neighbors, and family members. A fixture in Del Mar, he arrived here some 50 years ago and fell in love with the town and its natural beauty. Never one to waste resources, Charlie was a passionate environmental warrior who was an early adopter of solar energy, concocted homemade devices to capture rainwater, and faithfully composted garbage. At the family home, he nurtured trees, plants, and wild animals, including owls in the owl houses he built for them. He was also an enthusiastic and knowledgeable beekeeper, often bestowing gifts of honey upon lucky friends, and an inveterate storyteller who could weave tales drawn from his interesting life and tirelessly tell enchanting stories to children of all ages – here’s an example, filmed and animated by one of his grandsons, Secoya: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8gqgJU0_qE.

Charles Roger Khoury, Jr., was born on June 26, 1939, in Charleston, South Carolina. He was the namesake son of an Admiral with a legendary WWII reputation; and Charlie followed him into the military, graduating in 1960 from the U.S. Naval Academy and serving on a submarine during the Vietnam War. When he returned, he decided to pursue a law career and graduated from the University of San Diego with his J.D. in 1968. For nearly 54 years, Charlie was a Criminal Defense and Appellate Law attorney who, especially in his later years, would become a fierce advocate for the rights of men and women who were wrongfully imprisoned or who desperately needed a representative in court. He was a fearless activist for social justice.

In 1964, he married Luz Fabiola Gomez, with whom he had three children, Miguel, David, and Megan. In 1977, he married Carolyn Scheller (who came to the marriage with her daughters Sarah and Jenny); later, Charlie’s and Carolyn’s family expanded with the birth of Ben and Caitlin. In 2019, after 43 years of marriage, Carolyn died after being devotedly cared for by Charlie through her illness. In 2021, he found new happiness in his life and in April 2022, he married Eberly Barnes of Del Mar. She survives him, along with his seven children (Ben, Caitlin, Sarah, Jenny, David, Miguel, and Megan) and eleven grandchildren (Frida, Noah, Soleya, Chloe, Reed, Mason, Indigo, Sage, Draven, Missa, and Secoya).

One of Charlie’s many friends, Pat Ford, described him this way: Charlie Khoury—old but young, fierce but kind (always kind), relentless in his attack against the abuse of power but always humble, champion of the powerless, welcoming, and always looking to collect beautiful souls in his quest to protect the earth and argue for fairness. Equal parts Don Quixote, Atticus Finch, and Billy Jack. A warrior poet.

Charlie was all those things; but especially to his beloved family, he was “Papa,” and always will be.

There will be a Celebration of Life service for Charlie on Saturday January 28, 2023, at 2:00 pm at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of San Dieguito. All are welcome. The service will be held outside, weather permitting, and also be available on Zoom (information at the bottom of this announcement). ALL attendees must be vaccinated, and masks are recommended. If the service is inside masks are required. For information regarding the service or offers of assistance, please contact Livia Walsh ([email protected]).

Messages of condolence can be sent to Eberly Barnes ([email protected]), Ben Khoury ([email protected]), and Caitlin Khoury ([email protected]), who will pass them along to other family members.

Contributions in Charlie’s memory can be made to any of the following nonprofit organizations, all of which meant the world to him:

· Toccata Tahoe Symphony Orchestra (an outstanding symphony orchestra and chorus known for quality concerts in the greater Reno-Tahoe area and beyond)

· Kontrapunktus (a chamber orchestra performing Baroque music)

· Equal Justice Initiative (committed to ending mass incarceration and excessive punishment in the U.S., challenging injustice, and protecting basic human rights for the most vulnerable)

· UUFSD (Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of San Dieguito, Solana Beach, particularly its social justice and music programs)

Here is the information if you’d like to join us on Zoom:

Time: Jan 28, 2023 02:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://zoom.us/j/97588552716?pwd=a0ZVN0kzL2E3eTdBUWppV0ltNnZvZz09

Meeting ID: 975 8855 2716

Passcode: 854590