Charles Oren Hancock, 88, of Fairport, NY, passed peacefully on September 27, 2025. Born 1936, in Waltham, Massachusetts, he is preceded in death by his father, Charles Oren, Sr., mother, Gladys nee Graham, sister, Charlotte-Ann, and brother, Douglas.
Charlie grew up in Worcester, Massachusetts where he excelled in baseball and football, playing on state champion high school teams. He attended Worcester Polytechnic Institute for one semester before joining the army and served as a Staff Sergeant in the Seventh Army intelligence unit, stationed in Herzogen Aurach, Germany. It was there he met his bride to be, Bruni. Upon his honorable discharge, they married in 1959. He then enrolled and received a degree in the electrical engineering program at the University of Denver, in Colorado. In 1967, he and his family relocated to Fairport, New York, where he worked for Castle/Sybron and EG&G. After earning an MBA from the Rochester Institute of Technology, he started his own engineering consulting business in the medical device quality industry, followed by serving many years on both the US and Canadian standards boards.
As a lifelong committed Mason, he attained the rank of 33rd degree with both the Scottish and York Rites. He was actively involved with the Shriners as well. His many interests pertained to outdoor conservation, including as past president of the Genesee Conservation League, serving on the New York State fisheries and wildlife commission, and on the executive board for the Oatka Creek Fish & Game Club for many years. He also received a NYS governor appointment on the Erie Canal Preservation Board.
He is survived by wife, Bruni, children, Karl, Erik, and Kristina and their spouses, seven grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.
Memorial service will be held Saturday, April 25, 2026 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. White Haven Memorial Park – All Seasons Chapel 210 Marsh Rd, Pittsford, NY 14534. Burial service immediately following (~1:00 p.m.).
5 responses to “Hancock, Charles O.”
Beautifully written . My prayers are with you all . May he rest in peace.
Charlie was a giant in his personal and professional lives. Always willing to step up and create order from chaos. Always the austere presence who would speak only after careful consideration and, when he did speak, it was never less than brilliant. A dear friend, mentir and partner. The world is a darker place with his passing.
In Memory of Charlie Hancock
I am saddened by the passing of Charlie Hancock, a dear family friend whose intelligence, kindness, and insight touched many lives.
Charlie had a remarkable ability to see potential and possibility long before others could. In the early 2000s, while I was in college studying chemistry, Charlie called me one day and asked if I’d ever considered a future in medical devices. At the time, I was certain my path was headed toward laboratory work. Fifteen years later, I found myself working for the FDA, conducting a medical device inspection at a company making sterile hip implants — smiling at the thought that Charlie had seen that path long before I did.
Charlie will be remembered for his sharp mind, generous spirit, and the quiet ways he guided others toward their best selves. I will always be grateful for his encouragement and wisdom.
I will miss you at Tuesday lunch club at the village inn and at the Scottish Rite Meetings.
A quiet presence: Brother Charlie, you are already sorely missed.