Deceased January 2, 1977
View alumni profile (log in required)
25th Reunion Book Entry
In Memory
Charlie Arter died at the age of 30 on Jan. 2, 1977. He had spent seven weeks in an Atlanta hospital before he failed to survive a third heart operation in as many weeks. The shock and tragedy felt by his many Atlanta friends was compounded by his seemingly strong recovery from two prior operations. He celebrated New Year’s Eve with a party in his hospital room and looked forward to his return home the following Monday. On Saturday he took a marked turn for the worse and died on Sunday. For his wife, Margot, and 1-year-old daughter, Mary Elizabeth, his death is a cruel denial of the promise in their young lives.
Charlie came to Atlanta in the fall of 1968 following graduation. He soon involved himself in local politics and in the Atlanta city schools. He served as a campaign manager for a successful Atlanta school board candidate. He worked as a community school director in a neighborhood of poor whites, blacks and Cubans. He was one of the founders of a neighborhood organization located where he lived and worked. He took a leave of absence from the school system to complete his work for a master’s degree in educational administration from Georgia State University. In September 1976 Charlie was named principal of E. Rivers Elementary School.
Charlie’s commitment to the improvement of public education in Atlanta was to his friends more than just admirable. Charlie, had he chosen, could have lived a comfortable life. Instead he contributed himself to a city in need of his capabilities and dedication. That he was valued by a predominantly black school system was evidenced by his attaining a school principalship at such a young age.
Charlie’s tie to Amherst was more than just his own. His grandfather, Charles K. (1898), and father, Charles K. Jr. (1936), were Amherst alumni. As one who knew Charlie during and after Amherst and reflecting upon the changes in our lives since 1968, I think that Amherst had a profound impact on Charlie, one for which the City of Atlanta can be grateful.
