Dr. Charles A. Mudd passed away in his sleep at the Presbyterian Homes in Evanston, Illinois, on January 1, 2021. His family includes his wife, Joan Connery Mudd, daughters Jennifer (deceased), Laura, and Samantha, and sons Charles and Kevin. Dr. Mudd, known to friends and family as “Charlie,” and to his grandchildren as “Popsey,” was born in the wake of “Chicago’s Greatest Snowstorm,” in which his mother barely made it to the hospital through the 19” snowfall on March 28th, 1930. He is the son of Joseph A. Mudd and Helen Neyer Mudd. Charlie was preceded in death by his parents, by his sister, Anita Mudd Howe, his daughter Jennifer Mudd-Houghtaling and his grandson, Connor Mudd.
Charlie grew up in Chicago’s South Shore neighborhood. He enjoyed his parents’ farm in New Buffalo, Michigan, one of his favorite summer retreats with his family, uncles and cousins. If he wasn’t at the farm in New Buffalo, he was at the South Shore Country Club just across the street from his home, golfing, spending time with friends or studying. He graduated from Campion Jesuit High School in Wisconsin where he was editor of the school newspaper and graduated at the top of his class. He then attended Loyola University in Chicago where he earned a bachelor’s degree in business.
He joined the Navy through the U.S. Navy Officer Candidate School in 1953. After receiving his commission, he toured the Mediterranean aboard a destroyer. Charlie enjoyed the excitement of being at sea and traveling aboard the ship. He finished his naval service in 1956 as a Lieutenant.
After the Navy, Charlie married Joan Connery and together they had five children. He attended medical school on the GI Bill at Northwestern University, where he was voted president of his class. In the summers, he worked as a mail carrier where he delivered mail on Evanston’s North Side. He completed his medical degree, with his wife’s encouragement, and practiced as a pathologist at Swedish Covenant Hospital in Chicago for 20 years.
After retiring in 1990, Charlie discovered a new joy, horse racing. He owned several horses in partnership, including a winner in King Cugat, a stallion that entered the winner’s circle at Churchill downs on Kentucky Derby Day. He spent much of his time strategizing the odds with his friend Gary, and inviting family and friends to watch the races at Arlington Park, Sarasota Springs, and Santa Anita race tracks.
Dr. Mudd possessed an internal moral compass that allowed him to make decisions with little fanfare; he lived modestly and gave generously. He made a gift in 1997 to Swedish Covenant Hospital’s Diagnostic Testing Center in memory of his grandfather and parents, Charles Neyer and Joseph and Helen Mudd and Joan’s parents, John and Jane Connery. A plaque in the Galter Center of Swedish Hospital honors Dr. Charles A. Mudd for the development and contributions to the Department of Laboratory Medicines. He and his wife Joan also made a generous President's Society gift in the name of their daughter, Jennifer Mudd-Houghtaling, to create and establish the Postpartum Depression Program at Northshore University HealthSystem. Together they established the Mudd-Family Foundation promoting Children’s Education and Health.
His children remember him as an ethical, simple, generous, and respectful person. Whether talking with the wait staff at Four Farthings, or the merchants at Tony’s, or the doctors at the hospital, he allowed for others’ time and presence.
Although Joan and Charlie separated their marriage, they remained a close and caring couple for one another and their children until the very end. Together they designed and built a cottage in Union Pier, Michigan so the family could be together for years to come. When his wife Joan asked Charlie this past year where he felt the most at home, he responded, “at the cottage.” He was happiest there with his family, watching the comings and goings of the grandchildren, and passing time sitting on the deck, overlooking the lake with a cool glass of chardonnay.
Charlie’s family members include nine grandchildren: Sawyer, Celina, Charles, and Lucinda Lindland, Brandon Houghtaling, Alexandra and Connor Mudd (deceased), Grace and Cody Mudd Wissemann.
Dr. Mudd was well respected, loved and will be greatly missed.
A private family funeral is scheduled for January 16th, Saturday, at 1:30 at Saint Francis Xavier Catholic Church. All may join through Live Stream video five minutes before the mass at: www.YouTube.com and in the search bar enter: Saint Joseph Francis Xavier, or SJFX. Recordings available. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Hadley School for the Blind: https://www.hadley.edu
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