Charlene Chao Trachtenberg

Charlene在1975年與Jack崔登坡先生結婚，之後即伴隨著夫婿因美國政府的職務前往菲律賓、夏威夷、及華盛頓特區工作生活，並積極進取地學習新技能，進修電腦課程，發展她的職業生涯。在服務政府機構的30多年裡，她曾任職於行政、資訊、及預算控制的許多部門，最終服務於聯合參謀部管理主任辦公室。她在這段傑出的工作生涯裡曾被授予多項榮譽，並於2012年八月在國防部英雄廳所舉行的退休儀式上光榮身退。

大姐成長于一個富於基督價值觀的家庭，信仰堅定，從小在普利茅斯兄弟會在台創辦的教會崇拜。來美後曾在北維州中華基督教會服事，且在數十年的查經學習中，得到靈命的滋養。近年來，她參加住處附近的Waterfront Church, 並熱心地侍奉這個成長中的教會，領人更加與主接近。

Charlene 在促進人際關係上有過人的恩賜: 在嫁入猶太家庭的36年中，她從容無間地融合了兩種不同的文化。在Jack最後的歲月裡，更是無微不至的照顧他，得到Trachtenberg家庭永遠的友誼和尊敬。近年來，大姐與好友們畅遊世界各地，全心享受生活，並熱情地聯繫在澳洲， 北京和青島的表親們，以及台中的同窗校友們。在她過世的前幾個星期，還大力促成了旅居世界各地60多年未再見面的表兄妹們在上海的大團聚。

基督家庭的教養及年青時所擔負的重任，使Charlene 成為一個充滿行動力，果斷，樂觀，榮神，愛人的大姐大。她膝下無子女，但對弟妹的六個小孩視如己出。大姐對弟妹及親友們無私的愛，將永遠珍藏在我們的心中。

Charlene was born in Taiwan, Republic of China in May of 1950. Her family ancestry originated in Tsingdao, China. Her childhood was spent moving with her father’s military post, which eventually settled in Taichung. All of her undergrad education was received in Taichung: starting in Kwang-Fu Elementary School, to Huai-En Junior High School, to Taichung First Girls’ High School, and eventually graduating from China Medical University with a Bachelor Degree in 1975.

While attending college, she also worked at the American military base in Taichung in order to support the family, which included three younger siblings: Sharon, Daniel, and I-Lin. Due to the responsibilities she carried at a young age, she grew to be a determined and action-oriented lady who was always willing to serve others.

In 1975, Charlene married Jack Trachtenberg and started following Jack’s US government assignment posts to the Philippines, Hawaii and DC. Charlene believed in working hard and acquiring new skills whenever possible so she began to take computer classes in her spare time. She studied Computer Science at the University of Maryland in 1981, and the University of Hawaii, Leeward College, from 1982 to 1984.

During her thirty three years of service with the US Government, she held various positions in administration, computer support, and budget control functions. Her early assignments between 1979 and 1984 were in the Philippines, Maryland, and Hawaii respectively. In 1985 she embarked on computer related projects for the Army Corps of Engineers in DC. From 1991 to 1996, she supported the Naval Computer Telecommunication Station. She started working for the Joint Staff in 1996, receiving numerous awards over the years, and completed a distinguished career by working for the Joint Staff Director of Management Office. Her retirement ceremony was held at the Hall of Heroes in August 2012 with well-deserved honor.

Charlene was brought up with Christian family values and attended a church established by missionaries from Plymouth Brethren while in Taiwan. In the States, she attended Virginia Chinese Christian Church and was nurtured spiritually with decades of continuous bible study. After retirement, she found the newly established Waterfront Church in her neighborhood. She served in every way possible to bring people closer to God.

Charlene had an amazing gift of connecting people. Marrying into a Jewish family for 36 years, she bridged two cultures with ease and grace. She tirelessly took care of Jack during the final years of his life and continued to be a part of the Trachtenberg family who loved and respected her.

During the past few years, she travelled extensively around the world, appreciating life to the fullest. She also reached out to friends, alumni, and long-lost relatives in Australia, Beijing and Tsingdao, China. Several weeks before her passing, she reunited cousins across the globe who had not seen each other in over 60 years.

Charlene had no children, but she cared for her six nieces and nephews’ developments as if they were her own. Her love for her siblings, relatives and friends will be treasured forever.