SHU's Charles Doehler Passes Away
6/27/2012 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Doehler was the Seton Hall freshman baseball coach for 15 years. During his tenure, he compiled a .950 winning percentage, which is one of the highest among present or past Seton Hall coaches.
In addition, Doehler played an instrumental role in the development and success of the baseball program as well as the young athletes. He is credited with preparing John Monteleone, Jack Tracey and Dan Coombs before they went on to great major league careers.


Doehler's love of baseball began at the age of 14 when he was asked by Mrs. Ruth to participate in "the Babe's" funeral. As a member of the local Babe Ruth league, he placed a ball in Babe Ruth's coffin that said, "Safe at Home." This story is memorialized in his words in a 1998 HBO documentary on Babe Ruth.


As a player, Doehler's baseball career began at Seton Hall Prep before arriving at Seton Hall University. Upon graduation he was drafted by the Boston Braves. As a member of the 1952 Eau Claire Bears, his teammates included Hank Aaron and Wes Covington.
Doehler was inducted into the Seton Hall Prep Hall of Fame in 1988 and the Seton Hall Athletics Hall of Fame in 1997.
"The Seton Hall Athletics family has suffered a great loss with the passing of our friend, Chuck Doehler," said Seton Hall University Director of Athletics Patrick Lyons. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family. Chuck was a loyal and dedicated Pirate who will be dearly missed."
After his career in baseball, Doehler founded Doehler and Associates, in the 1960's. He "made his mark" in the insurance industry for 30 years receiving many awards and honors. Always staying connected to Seton Hall; he served as president of the alumni association and later returned as an administrator becoming the first planned giving director at the University.


Throughout his life Doehler remained loyal to Seton Hall Athletics as a loyal contributor to the Pirate Blue Athletic Fund and University. His passion for fund raising extended to several charities, including the New Jersey Chapter of the American Red Cross, which is home to the "Chuck Doehler Education Center" in Fairfield, N.J.
"Throughout his life, Chuck built an incredible network of friends and today we feel a tremendous loss," said Bryan Felt, Associate Athletic Director for Development. "He was a passionate believer in Seton Hall Athletics and the work of Pirate Blue."
There will be a memorial service for Doehler on Friday, June 29, at the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception at Seton Hall University at 10 a.m.
