Charles "Chuck" Edward Savatsky

Charles “Chuck” Edward Savatsky, age 66, of Dexter, Michigan, passed away at home on Thursday, June 19, 2025. Born on August 15, 1958, in Dearborn, Michigan, Chuck was the third child of George and Mary Lillian. He is survived by his wife Rumi, his children Tom and Lydia, his step-daughter Hana, his siblings George and Kathy, his nieces Lauren and her husband Nick, Leslie and her husband Carl, his niece Julia, and his nephew Peter.

Chuck’s early years were filled with fun, energy, and passion. As a toddler, he was sometimes found stacking coins while his father graded papers. His parents knew he was going to be good at math. From a young age, Chuck had a great work ethic. At age nine, he took over the neighborhood lawn mowing business from his brother George. Chuck was a favorite among the neighborhood ladies who found young Charlie to be kind, and they often rewarded him with their homemade pie. During his junior high school years, he spent his summers living at Camp Dearborn with his siblings, enjoying time with family and friends outside. At Dearborn High School, he was co-captain of the cross-country team. He ran on the varsity team with some of his best friends, Jared and Pete, and their friendship lasted his lifetime. Chuck had an energetic voice. He played the lead role in H.M.S. Pinafore in grade 6. He was well known to have nailed the famous song from the opera, “I am the Captain of the Pinafore”. He was also an active member of the church choir. He loved singing, but later admitted that some of his motivation to join the choir was to meet girls.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science from the University of Michigan in 1981. His career began at Applicon in Ann Arbor (later acquired by Schlumberger), where he worked for 17 years. While at Schlumberger, he spent two and a half years working in Germany and discovered a love for travel. After returning home, he joined Autodesk in Novi, Michigan, and remained there for 26 years, building a reputation for strong leadership across global teams. He played a pivotal role in shaping Autodesk’s 3D CAD design product, Inventor. He retired as a Senior Director of Software Development of Fusion and Inventor in April 2025.

Chuck was a truly loving and caring father. He regularly took his son Tom, who is on the spectrum, out to local restaurants. Metzger’s and the Dexter Pub were their favorite places. Every Monday, they sat at the bar at Metzger’s, and every Friday, they got a table at the Dexter Pub. These dinners were followed by quality father-and-son time watching Tom’s favorite TV shows. His daughter Lydia has become a strong and successful young woman, now working in New York City as a Data Scientist. Chuck was there for her every step of the way. From touring colleges together to moving her into graduate school in Minneapolis, and later helping her prepare for job interviews, Chuck offered steady guidance and unwavering support. He was always ready with thoughtful advice, whether it was about travel, investing, or relationships. One of his recent joys was visiting Lydia in Brooklyn, New York with Rumi. It was a trip he thoroughly enjoyed.

Chuck’s leisure hours were rich and varied. He loved to drive fast and proudly taught both his daughter and step-daughter to drive. He enjoyed playing cards and watching sports and Netflix shows. His most recent passion was learning Japanese. He kept his diamond status on Duolingo for about two years.

A true sports enthusiast, Chuck stood by the Detroit Lions through every season—good or bad. He also cheered for the Detroit Tigers and, of course, was a passionate supporter of Michigan Wolverines football. He enjoyed taking his family and friends to these games.

Outdoors, Chuck embraced every season. He steered the family boat, towing his kids on tubes and wakeboards, and found joy in skiing, hiking, cycling, golfing, and scuba diving. He skied several of the North American VASA cross-country ski races with his sister, Kathy, and brother-in-law, Bob. He competed in several 5k and 10k runs with Kathy, Bob, and his father too. He also ran the Detroit and Chicago marathons.

Travel was Chuck’s great passion. He loved discovering new places, meeting people from different cultures, and embracing the unexpected with curiosity and humor. His family cherishes the memories of unforgettable vacations together in Ireland, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Italy. His daughter, stepdaughter, and wife remember the ski trips throughout the Rockies. Some of his more recent trips include two long road trips in the central and east-coasts of Canada, and a cruise trip in Alaska with Rumi. He was looking forward to exploring new areas of the world in the future. On top of his bucket list were Iceland, Japan, New Zealand, and Machu Picchu.

Chuck’s adventures extended beyond family trips. He fondly recalled the moment he rose to the challenge of picking up two peanuts with chopsticks on a business trip in China, a small victory that brought him pride for years. He even rode on the back of an elephant on a business trip in India.

Chuck appreciated craft beer, whiskey, and bourbon, and delighted in seeking out fine versions of all. He also enjoyed red wine, with Amarone being his favorite.

Those who knew Chuck speak first of his generosity, warmth, and integrity. He would tip servers lavishly and “loan” money to friends without hesitation. His co-workers admired his integrity. Chuck earned respect and friendship across ages and cultures. Co-workers said “he was a wonderful human being who cared about the welfare and success of others”, “made everyone around him better”, and “always had the right words to lift people’s spirits.”

His last day was spent happily enjoying his new favorite brewery called Mothfire, listening to jazz music with Rumi and friends.

He will be deeply, deeply missed by family, friends, and all whose lives he touched.

To create a lasting tribute that reflects Chuck’s values and love for nature, the family will be planting a grove of trees on our property in Dexter, Michigan. If you would like to join us in this project, please contribute to it in any amount. Thank you.

Lasting Tribute to Chuck Savatsky: https://gofund.me/68f13aa9