Charles Cooper Robideau

Charles Cooper Robideau passed away peacefully at the age of 93, on May 14, 2026 at his residence in Richmond, Virginia.

Charles was born on March 31, 1933, in Washington, D.C., the son of the late Roger Robb, a U.S. circuit judge and special counsel, and the late Mary Cooper, a school teacher. He spent most of an idyllic childhood in Falmouth, MA, where he cultivated what would prove to be life-long loves of sailing, baseball, and local print media.

Charles attended Princeton University, where he participated in the University's theater program. Midway through his schooling, Charles left school in 1954 to serve his country in the United States Navy as the Korean War was underway. He spent four years in the South China Sea aboard the destroyer U.S.S. Hopewell. Upon completion of his service, he returned to Falmouth to work for the Falmouth Enterprise newspaper, whose papers he had delivered as his first job. He eventually moved to Boston to complete a degree in Journalism from the University of Boston, graduating in 1957.

Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Charles went on to report and photograph for a number of east-coast papers, including the Hartford Courant, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, and the Philadelphia Inquirer. He also co-founded an underground newspaper, the Pittsburgh Point, which ran from 1966 to 1970 and covered local and national politics.

Charles eventually came to be employed by the United Steel Workers Union as a spokesperson and photographer, and was ultimately made editor of Steelabor Magazine, covering critical labor events for America’s steelmaking industry through the 1980s. He championed the demands of workers during events such as the 10-month strike of the Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel Corp and the strike of over 4,000 workers at Bridgestone-Firestone plants over a historic 27-month union battle.

In 1987, Charles answered an ad in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette requesting singers to audition for a part in Gilbert and Sullivan’s “The Yeomen of the Guard”. He got the role and met his future wife, Elizabeth, during the same production.

After retiring from the Steel Workers Union, Charles moved with his wife and daughter to Midlothian, Virginia in 2006, where the family remained until his passage.

Charles harbored a lifelong dedication to civil rights and justice. Over the past decade, he frequently attended and spoke at meetings of the Greater Richmond Transit Company, where he advocated for equal municipal contributions to the transit company between the city and counties and increased bus service to Chesterfield. Additionally, Charles was a founding member of the Virginia Physicians for a National Health Program, an organization advocating for the passage of single-payer healthcare in Virginia. He was also the editor for the Richmond Peace Education Center newsletter, and for many years a regular attendee at meetings of Richmonders for Peace in Israel-Palestine.

A music lover, Charles played the bassoon and also sang with the Pittsburgh Mendelssohn Choir, Richmond Concert Chorale, and was for several years an active member of the church choirs at St. James Episcopal Church and St. Thomas Episcopal Church.

Charles is remembered by those who knew and loved him as an eloquent storyteller, talented writer, caring father, and dedicated advocate for peace. He is survived by two children and his loving wife.

A memorial service will be held at Woody Funeral Home-Parham, located at 1771 N. Parham Rd., Richmond, VA 23229, at 7:00 P.M., on Saturday, June 6, 2026, with a visitation immediately prior from 5:00 - 7:00 P.M. The family invites family and friends to add their photos and memories.