Mr. Charles Gibbons, age 84, of Portsmouth, RI, passed away unexpectedly on September 23, 2018 at Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River, MA.
Charles was born in Newport, RI to the late Ernest Gibbons and Theodora (Addison) Gibbons. He grew up in Newport and graduated from Rogers High School in 1952. It was during his high school years he flourished as a student athlete. He served as football team captain for 2 years, track team captain, and was awarded all state football in 1951 and All Class A for Discus on the track team.
Charlie’s athletic career continued at the University of Rhode Island. He was selected as football team captain at URI as well, and earned All Big East in 1953 and Little All American honors in 1955. He was then fortunate enough to be given the opportunity to play professional football, and success followed him to this level, he played for the Montreal Alouettes in the 1956 Gray Cup, the National Championship of the Canadian Football League. Charlie also played for the Providence Steamrollers semi-pro football team.
In 1957 Charles joined the US Army and served in the Fourth Armored Division, Delta Company. He also played football in the Army, in 1957 on the Ft. Hood team and in 1958 on the Ulm Hawks in Ulm, Germany as the youngest player/coach.
After his military service, he joined his alma mater Rogers as the offensive line coach in 1960, and began a long and successful coaching career with Rogers Football and Track. In football, Charlie was a part of a staff that dominated the RI football scene for well over 3 decades including 7 State championships . Many of his players going to to successful college careers. Charlie also coached for several years at Brown University and the Naval Prep School. Under his direction, the Rogers HS track teams achieved great success winning 5 Indoor Track and 4 Outdoor Track RI State championships as well as a NE Championship. Over the 30 years as a coach and teacher, he has been selected by 9 different organization’s Hall of Fame committees (The City of Newport Sports, Rogers HS, URI, Providence Gridiron club, RI HS Football Coaches Assoc. , RI Track Coaches Assoc., RI Football Foundation, RI Interscholastic League)for his character, ability and achievements. He is also selected as a member of URI Grand Team one of their top 50 players of their first 100 years.
He retired in 1990 after 35 years of teaching, and spent several more years competing on the golf course at Green Valley CC in Portsmouth. He soon won at golf, and was the 2000 RI Super Senior Champion of the RIGA.
An active community member Charlie served on the Board of Directors for the Providence Gridiron Club, Long Wharf Association, and Green Valley Country Club.
Charles is survived by his two sons, Charles Gibbons II (wife Denise Gibbons)of Belfair, WA, Michael Gibbons (wife Christina Gibbons) of Rumford, RI, and his three grandchildren, Tisha Wosencroft, Jacob Gibbons, and Jared Gibbons, as well as two brothers Ernest Gibbons and Theodore Gibbons. Charlie is also survived by many nieces and nephews of whom he was extremely proud. He will also be dearly missed by his companion Diana Dinsmore of Portsmouth.
He was preceded in death by his wife Gloria Gibbons and a sister Joyce Johnson.
Visiting hours will be held Sunday, September, 30, 2018 from 10am -2PM at Memorial Funeral Home, 375 Broadway, Newport.
Funeral services will be Monday, October 1, at 11:00 AM in the Memorial Funeral Home.
Memorial donations may be made to the Providence GridIron Club, 12 Chandler Dr, Coventry RI, 02816 in his Memory.
