Rev. Eugene J. Charman, entered into eternal life on March 25, 2025, the solemnity of the Annunciation. Fr. Gene was born in Newport, RI on March 10, 1944 to the late Genevieve (Grudzinski) Charman and Eugene R. Charman. Fr. Gene spent his childhood growing up along the shoreline and was a proud alumni of Notre Dame High School in West Haven. It was at Notre Dame where he first encountered the Brothers of the Holy Cross, who were essential in forming Fr. Gene into a Christian man of faith. After graduating from Notre Dame, Fr. Gene attended Stonehill College, where he studied physics, and decided to pursue a calling to religious life and entered the Novitiate of the Brothers of the Holy Cross. Discerning that he was called to the priesthood, Fr. Gene began studying for the Archdiocese of Hartford at Theological College in Washington, D.C., and was ordained to the priesthood on May 22, 1971 by Archbishop John F. Whealon at the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Hartford. Upon ordination, Fr. Gene was assigned to St. James in Manchester. Fr. Gene loved his priesthood and his many assignments in Southington, Woodbridge, West Haven, Oakville, Cheshire, Orange, and North Haven. In his priesthood, Fr. Gene was an early computer guru, and was tasked with helping to implement computers into many of the parishes of the Archdiocese. In time after evading becoming a pastor for many years, Fr. Gene was assigned to St. Thomas Becket parish as the administrator and later pastor in 2000, and stayed there until 2012, when he was assigned as pastor to Holy Infant parish in Orange. Fr. Gene retired as a priest of the Archdiocese of Hartford in 2019, and in retirement helped out in many parishes in the greater New Haven area. Fr. Gene enjoyed studying John Henry Newman, the sarum rite, and all things technological. Father was predeceased by his sisters, Patricia O'Brien and Barbara Hughes, and is survived by numerous nieces and nephews.
A Mass of Christian Burial for Fr. Gene will be celebrated by the Most Reverend Christopher J. Coyne, Archbishop of Hartford on Monday, March 31 at 11 a.m. at St. Bridget of Sweden Parish, 175 Main St., Cheshire, CT. The Mass will be live streamed on St. Bridget of Sweden's Facebook page. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: Notre Dame High School, Attn. Development Office, One Notre Dame Way, West Haven, CT 06516. Beecher & Bennett Funeral Home, 2300 Whitney Ave., Hamden has been entrusted with the arrangements. To send condolences, please see obituary at www.beecherandbennett.com.