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Honoring a Mentor: Charles Voltz

This post is originally from April 5, 2018.  Updated January 7, 2023:  Our dear friend Charles Voltz passed on Christmas Day.  RIP, my friend.

The City Council honored local activist and frequent mentor to other activists, Charles Voltz, last Monday night at the council meeting.  The list of Charles' notable contributions in the Proclamation are long and deep–from co-founding the Washington Park Society with Dan Anderson to the Citizens for a Better Burlingame (CBB of Safeway fame–read the 74 posts here) to High-speed Boondoggle and several groups in between.  As an active Rotarian and man-about-town, Charles has epitomized the type of civic engagement that helped Burlingame through some very tough issues–and he will continue to do so because that is the kind of guy he is.  Several people, including several council members, noted that Charles is generous with his time and knowledge when mentoring people.  It was great to see him and his significant other Mary Hunt honored at a council meeting.  You can watch the accolades on the City website here.  And here is Charles with Mayor Michael Brownrigg who put the ceremony together and ran it with panache.

Charles and Michael_040218

Charles Voltz and Michael Brownrigg
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12 responses to “Honoring a Mentor: Charles Voltz”

  1. Jennifer

    I can think of no one more worthy of this honor–I’ve known Charles since about 2001, and he has selflessly worked on a variety of pressing community issues that over the years were not only “local”, but statewide issues in which this city had a great deal at stake, for example, the (unfortunately ongoing) High Speed Rail debacle. Thank you for all your tireless work, Charles, we appreciate YOU so much!

  2. David

    Heartfelt congratulations to Charles and Mary! As someone (Joe?) noted, as various residents got up to honor Charles, it was the first time the Council had not limited remarks to three minutes.

  3. Russ

    Great man. Great honor. Well deserved. Someone once said that it’s the crazy zealots that get things done. I am proud to have served alongside Charles as a fellow crazy zealot and usual suspect.

  4. hollyroller

    It is very important to honor loved ones, and “Local Hero’s.”
    I appreciate our “Local Hero’s at “The Burlingame Voice” that have provided this community with information that would otherwise not be broadcast via Newspaper, or other media.
    Thank you Joe, your co-conspirators.
    Hillsider too.

  5. Coni

    In the immortal words of Casey Stengel:
    There are 3 kinds of people.
    Those who make things happen.
    Those who watch things happen.
    And those who say “what happened?”
    Charles, you have made many good things happen in Burlingame for years. Your fingerprints are on countless projects in town that improved from start to finish because of your thoughtful suggestions and advice.
    Thank you so much for all you’ve done and continue to do.
    You and Mary are the best!!

  6. Cathy Baylock

    What a wonderful celebration of a wonderful citizen. I have worked with Charles for 17 years and he is truly a gentleman and scholar. Burlingame is blessed to have him continue to serve our community and thank you to Mayor Brownrigg for honoring an exceptional man.

  7. Sir Paul

    Congrats Prince Charles.

  8. Joe

    Dear Readers, It is with great sadness that I report that our friend Charles Voltz passed away on Christmas Day. I have not been able to locate an official obituary yet, but will add it here when I do.
    In the meantime, I will use a feature of the blog that I seldom use to move this post from four years ago to the top of the listings for a while. Charles was a dedicated activist and a good friend. RIP

  9. Jjennifer Pfaff

    Those who had the opportunity to work with Charles in any capacity, will know they have been blessed. So many gifts and abilities; he was such a vital part of local history in a very short period of time. I’m just one of many who was fortunate enough to call him a friend.

  10. Betsy McGinn

    Charles was a truly great man, friend and gift to the Burlingame community. He not only fought for its citizens on a variety of complex issues, he took joy in building community. I will always have fond memories of the family bike rides he organized that grew every week, meeting for coffee to discuss the issues of the day and schlepping to Sacramento to meet with legislators. A special soul who will be greatly missed.

  11. Joe

    Dear readers, Charles Voltz’ son has forwarded the following information about a memorial to be held in Charles’ honor this weekend. Here are the particulars–please spread the word:
    Charles Voltz
    March 24, 1934 – December 25th, 2022
    Please join family and friends in remembrance
    Sunday April 16th, 2023
    2:30 pm – 4:30 pm
    Burlingame Community Center
    850 Burlingame Avenue
    Burlingame, CA
    Program:
    2:40 Welcome
    2:45 Presentation
    3:00 Speakers & Stories
    3:45 Reception

  12. Ted Crocker

    Most of Burlingame has no idea what a champion of Burlingame they had in Charles. What an honor to have known, worked alongside, and watched Charles in action. Thank you, Charles!

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