Charles J. “Chase” Pugliese ’64

Charles J. “Chase” Pugliese ’64, of East Greenbush, N.Y.; July 18, from Parkinson’s. He received his Juris Doctor degree from Albany Law School and was admitted to the bar in 1969. For more than 30 years he was an attorney and assistant counsel for the New York State  Departments of Agriculture and Markets, Social Services, and the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance. During his career, he represented his agencies in numerous administrative hearings and argued and wrote briefs for cases in the State Supreme Court, the Appellate Division and the Court of Appeals. He was the recipient of the 1978 Commissioner’s Award for writing the New York State Dog Law and the 1993 Commissioner’s Special Commendation for efforts in implementing the Centralized Child Support Collections from the New York State Department of Social Services.  In addition, he operated his own law practice for more than four decades. He was active in the Knights of Columbus, East Greenbush Council 6027, and chaired many events for the council, subsequently receiving the council’s highest award, Knight of the Year in 1987 for distinguished service. He was a cofounder of the New York State Organization of Management/Confidential Employees (OMCE). He served as a lector for Holy Spirit Church for many years and was a communicant of St. John the Baptist Church in Valatie, N.Y. He also served as the publicity director for the East Greenbush Community Library Book Sales and for the Kinderhook Lake Corporation’s events for many years and received the Greenbush Award for outstanding service to the community in 1986. He was a lifelong New York Yankees and Giants fan. He played softball for the Knights of Columbus and the Bozos for more than three decades. He and his wife enjoyed traveling and visited more than 37 countries. He proudly attended his class reunions every five years and walked through the gates with Slater Hall roommate and lifelong friend Ronald T. Wilson, who survives him. He is survived by his wife, Paula; a daughter and son-in-law; a son; and several cousins, nieces and nephews.