Renaissance Man and beloved Islander Charles Thompson Faddis, 78, of Bainbridge Island died April 17th at St Joseph Medical Center following a skating fall.

Born near State College, PA, March 19, 1947, Charlie, Chuck or Tom is remembered as a loving husband and father, a talented engineer, cabinet-maker, jeweler, consummate problem-solver, a sharp wit, and lover of fine Scotch. He and his wife TJ Faddis built their own Bainbridge Island home to which the door was always open to friends and neighbors whom he would drop everything to help when it was needed. A life-long disciple of the unconventional, he loved collaborating with local artists, musicians, builders and crafts people.

Perhaps Faddis was best known as the island’s itinerant bagpiper—playing weddings, funerals, and pubs, including the well-loved Burns Night in January. Over the years he and TJ performed in three local Celtic bands—The Islanders 5, Celtic Magic and Celtic Capers.

Faddis graduated from Carnegie Mellon University in 1970 with a bachelor of science degree. He joined the Boeing Company in 1979 as an Electrical Engineer where he claimed he gave them “ … the best 2 years of my life”. In 1981 he began designing software, hardware and mechanical solutions for local clients, most notably for DLI Engineering and Prototek in Poulsbo.

In 2006 Charlie donated his skills and time to completely redesign and restore the majestic marquee of the Historic Lynwood Theatre where TJ ran art house films. Since 2012 he engineered many custom installations for the Bainbridge Island Museum of Art.

Fearless in the face of life’s limitations and in the constant pursuit of joy, on April 16th he was still solving problems, designing jewelry and software, playing his pipes and ice-skating. He is survived by his wife TJ Faddis, sons Paul Ian Faddis and Thomas Truman Faddis, and daughter Amanda Jane Faddis, his brother Robert J. Faddis, his sister Royce Faddis, former wife Connie Faddis, 12 cousins – and countless dear friends who graced and delighted his life and gave him purpose.

A Remembrance for Chuck will be on Monday, June 23, at 6:00 at the Bainbridge Island Museum of Art.