Charlie Proctor

Our son, Charlie Proctor, grew up in Southport, Connecticut where we still live. He was an easy child, born on Sunday, full of grace. Things just always seemed to come easy for him, school, friends, sports, music. He was quick to laugh, joke, hug, and had a “can do” attitude. Charlie was our joy and our light.

After completing his engineering degree at Tufts, the pieces of the next chapter in his life were coming together. He had obtained his professional engineering license and had a good job in Boston. He and his partner, Alison, had rented an apartment together, and discussed how many children they wanted. They had a wide, supportive, and fun group of friends, many who enjoyed the outdoors - biking, skiing, sailing, rock and ice climbing. The tunnel to grief and suffering is swift and continues. If only we’d called him; if only they’d gone to the grocery store instead of biking to get Thai food in Cambridge. Anger at the town of Arlington for not fixing an intersection where there had been other crashes, though none fatal. Loss of identity. Who am I if not Charlie’s mother? Who is our family without him? Where we had anticipated sending a “save the date” for Charlie and Alison’s wedding, we sent one instead for his memorial service and bike ride.   

A driver hit and killed Charlie at the intersection of Mass Ave. and Appleton in Arlington.  He died on May 5, 2020, 17 days from his 28th birthday and six miles from his Somerville home.  It is my wish that my grief, love, and anger will in some way spark the action to change our roads to slow down traffic and change our culture to decrease speeding and distracted driving.  No family should go through the pain and suffering of a preventable loss as we and too many others have.  

Forever in our hearts,

Judy & Ched Proctor