In Memory

Charles Dorfman

Charles A Dorfman Obituary

 

Charles Aaron Dorfman (7/9/1954-3/22/2023) was 68 years old when he died this week in his home in Chicago. Charles was born in the Windy City and threatened regularly to leave it, but after brief sojourns in Wisconsin (Whitefish Bay and Madison 1965-1977), Detroit (1978-1980), and South Carolina (2020), he always found his way back to the city. Even after decades in the suburbs, he still managed to settle just a few blocks from Wrigley Field for most of the last twenty years. 

Charles was the son of Irving Dorfman (of Chicago, 1925) and Mary Margaret Elizabeth Soph Dorfman (of Boonville, MO, 1925). A brilliant mind drove him to a double-major in physics and math at UW-Madison (B.S., 1976) and a determination to make his mark in business motivated an MBA from the same school (1977). His first job out of school was as a systems’ analyst at Brunswick in Detroit where he moved with his first wife, Patricia (Patsy) Wollersheim. The two divorced in 1978, but Charles stayed in Detroit until he was hired by Touche-Ross as a financial auditor and consultant which brought him back to Chicago. Married to Michelle Goodman in 1986, the two had their son Michael in 1988. By then, Charles had gone to work for Apple in 1987, but – ever the entrepreneur – he left Apple in 1990 to start his own business: ‘Icon Info Systems’. Son Mark was born in 1992 and daughter Rebecca (Becca) in 1997, and the consulting firm was hugely successful until the early 2000s when Charles’ personal life took a left turn. When Icon failed, Charles regrouped, recouped, and launched an internet business ‘Tstd’. Another success for more than 15 years, when the world turned – again – he landed on his feet and was in the process of developing another internet service business when COVID paralyzed the world. Charles moved to Hartsville, South Carolina for 8 months, but returned to Chicago in October 2020 heavily invested in his newest business program with his business partner of more than 20 years, Mark Romz. 

A lifelong sports enthusiast (football, baseball, basketball, golf, cars, and motorcycles), Charles was a wealth of information about players and their performance stats. When his son Mark, who not only played baseball and football in high school, but landed an internship with the Chicago Bears during his college career took a solid job with the Chicago Cubs in time to cheer them through their World Series victory, Charles was beyond proud. Charles’ interest in film and Hollywood storytelling followed his first-born son, Mike to a successful budding film editing/directing career in California. Delighted when daughter Becca got her motorcycle license last year, Charles bought a new bike and devoted any and every weekend to riding with her until the Chicago winter shut them both down. Supported by longtime friends Mark Lazar, Tom Morgan, Dan Ogens, and Bob Shecterle, Charles remained in Chicago until physical illness took its toll and his life last week.

Charles was preceded in death by his sister, Stephanie Mara Dorfman Schoenfeldt Barnes, and is survived by his siblings Julia Dorfman Gunther Fisher, Laura Dorfman, and Jake Dorfman, his three children, his grandson Cooper, his nephew David Manning Fisher, and his niece Rachel Marie Capps.

 

https://obituaries.neptunesociety.com/obituaries/rolling-meadows-il/charles-dorfman-11217212

 

With heavy hearts, we announce the death of Charles A Dorfman of Chicago, Illinois, who passed away on March 22, 2023 at the age of 68. Family and friends are welcome to leave their condolences on this memorial page and share them with the family.

 

https://www.echovita.com/us/obituaries/il/chicago/charles-a-dorfman-16156186



 
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03/26/23 02:54 PM #1    

Rob Hevey

So many fond memories of all the crazy times we had in high school.

RIP Charlie.

rob


03/27/23 10:46 AM #2    

Jill Bamberger (Dizack)

Post high school I got to know Charlie through my (now husband) Bob Dizack. I had the pleasure of being entertained by Charlie's sarcastic sense of humor. I will always remember his laughter.


03/28/23 10:55 AM #3    

Don Zien

Definitely a smart MF and the master of dry humor.  This is a tough loss for our group of friends and quite the reality check. 


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