Charles Librader

Charles’ long, remarkable life began in Paris, France, where he was born on January 3, 1929 – the youngest son of Abraham and Esther Librader, and younger brother of Henri. His youth was enjoyed in Paris until the Nazi occupation, when he was forced to flee to the south of France with his mother and brother in 1942. Unfortunately, his father was not as fortunate and met his untimely death during the Holocaust at Auschwitz.

Charles eventually returned to Paris with his remaining family, and following the end of World War II, he visited the United States for the first time in 1946, staying with aunts and cousins in Brooklyn, NY. That initial stay lasted for 12 years, during which time he was drafted into the U.S. Army (1951), served in Europe during the Korean War (1951 – 1952), became a U.S. citizen (1953), and received a degree from City College in New York City (1956). After a brief stint back in Paris to visit his family, Charles returned to the U.S. and NYC in 1961 to focus on his professional and personal life.

Charles’ 30+ year career in the Transportation & Travel industry began at SNCF (French Rail) in 1961, where he worked for 4 years. He then pivoted to the airlines where he worked as a marketing and business development executive for 25 years at Air France (1966 – 1969) and Air Afrique (1969 – 1990), which contributed significantly to his love of international travel. He completed his illustrious career right back where it started, at SNCF (then Rail Europe), before officially retiring in 1995.

Charles’ professional and personal pursuits intersected during his first stint at SNCF, where he met his future wife, Yvette, in 1962. They married in 1965 and initially settled down in Rego Park, Queens. Three years later, their son, Erik, was born, ultimately prompting what would become a long-term relocation to the suburbs. Charles moved the family to North White Plains, NY, in Westchester County, in 1969, where they lived for almost 50 years. In 2016, Charles and Yvette finally left Westchester to move closer to their son, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter in NJ, settling into Seabrook Village in Tinton Falls, where Charles resided until the day of his passing.

A consummate Renaissance man and bon vivant, Charles enjoyed world travel, fine food and wine, reading (particularly WWII and spy-themed stories), movies (he loved westerns), the New York Yankees, and simply laughing and engaging with family and friends. He will always be remembered for his great sense of humor, calm demeanor, keen intellect, and ability to easily converse with anyone regarding any topic.

Charles is survived by his wife, Yvette; his son, Erik; his daughter-in-law, Karyn; his granddaughter, Samantha; his niece, Annie; his nephew, Franck; and several cousins in both the U.S. and France.

A funeral service for Charles will be held Wednesday, September 27, 2023 from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM at Bloomfield-Cooper Jewish Chapels, 2130 Kings Highway, Ocean, NJ 07712. Following the funeral service will be a catered reception from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM at Bloomfield-Cooper Catering Hall, 2130 Kings Highway, Ocean, NJ 07712.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.bloomfieldcooperocean.com for the Librader family.