Charlotte Baruch, age 86, died on March 23 in Apple Valley, Minnesota.

She was born December 27, 1936, to the late Charlie and Margaret Hogatt in Pawnee, Oklahoma. Charlotte grew up in the Texas panhandle, equally at home on horseback or a bicycle. She attended Pampa High School—where she developed a lifelong passion for literature and theater—and continued her studies at the University of North Texas. There, she met a fellow student named Robert Baruch. Ten days after they met, Bob proposed. They were married less than a year later and remained together happily until Bob’s death in 1998.

During the early years of their marriage, the young couple resided in Galveston, Texas; Boulder, Colorado; Palo Alto, California; and Minneapolis. Charlotte worked various jobs during this period; two of her favorites were in the burn unit at the University of Texas John Sealy Hospital and the admissions office at Stanford University. Charlotte and Bob moved to Stevens Point in 1967, when Bob accepted a teaching position at UWSP. They lived in Stevens Point throughout the duration of their marriage, raising two children.

After several years as a stay-at-home mom, Charlotte returned to complete her education at UWSP and graduated with a BA in English in 1978. She then served in several positions at UWSP including as Student Life Editor and later as Program Director of Business English for Foreign Executives.

Charlotte was active in The League of Women Voters, University Women, and Operation Bootstrap. She and Bob also led semester-abroad programs to Munich and London. And over the course of three decades, Charlotte made thousands of homemade ham-and-cheese melts for UWSP theater “strike” parties.

Charlotte and Bob loved their life in Stevens Point and their years at UWSP. She continued to reside in Stevens Point for about 10 years following Bob’s death before moving to be closer to her daughter in the Minneapolis area.

Charlotte is survived by a small but loving family: daughter Dr. Anne Barnes (Apple Valley, Minnesota), son-in-law Greg, and grandson Samuel; and son Chad Baruch (Dallas, Texas), daughter-in-law Veronica, and grandchildren Kennedy, Julissa, and Victoria.

Charlotte will be buried in Forest Cemetery with a private family ceremony. Contributions in her memory may be made to the Baruch/Bridgeman Fund at UWSP.