HUDSON, Mass. and VEAZIE Charles Guidotti, 69, was born Sept. 19, 1935, in Somerville, Mass., the son of Hugo and Mary (Keblinski) Guidotti. Charlie graduated from Hudson High School in Hudson, Mass. in 1953 and Yale University, where he majored in geology, in 1957. After receiving his doctorate from Harvard University in 1962, he began his teaching career in the geology department of the University of California in Davis, Calif., where he received tenure in 1968. In 1969, he moved to the University of Wisconsin, where he spent 12 years in the department of geological sciences there. From his doctorate work as a student throughout his entire career, Charlie worked on the rocks of the State of Maine. Even during the years he spent in California and Wisconsin, he and his family spent most summers back in Maine first in the Oquossoc/Rangeley area and then on the coast near Owls Head and Spruce Head. Finally in 1981, he accepted a position at the University of Maine at Orono, where he was the metamorphic Appalachian professor of Geology until his retirement due to illness in January of 2005. In December of 2001, Charlie was awarded the Laurea Honoris Causa in Geological Sciences by the University of Padova, Padova, Italy. This honorary degree was in recognition of “Prof. Guidotti’s distinguished career in metamorphic petrology and mineralogy and his long association with scientists at the University of Padova. His research provided much of the background leading to recognition of Maine as one of the world’s classic examples of low pressure-high temperature metamorphism, a type of metamorphism thought to be typical of a particularly important type of mountain building process.” Gardener, birdwatcher, bird feeder, planter of trees… Charlie was a passionate lover of nature. He had been a member of the Massachusetts Audubon Society since he was nine years old and belonged to and supported many environmental organizations throughout his life. The birds in his yard (especially the blue jays for his peanuts) will miss him terribly. Charlie was almost as well known for his sense of humor as he was for his academic work. Almost anyone reading this who knew him will no doubt smile at that statement and remember some outlandish joke or uttering from Charlie at some time. Surviving are his wife of 41 years, Barbara; his daughters, Gretchen Louise Guidotti of Albany, Calif., and Amy Maria Rybicki of Cape Coral, Fla.; his son, Vincent Charles Guidotti of Peabody, Mass.; his two grandchildren, Chelsea Lee Davis of Cape Coral, Fla. and Hugo Vincent Guidotti of Peabody, Mass.; and his son-in-law, David Rybicki; and daughter-in-law, Ylva Bredberg Guidotti. He also leaves his sister, Louise Ann Carney of West Falmouth, Mass.; and his brother, Hugo G. Guidotti; and sister-in-law, Sally, of Hudson, Mass., as well as many cousins, nieces and nephews, mostly in New England. In lieu of flowers, those who wish may send a contribution in Charles’ name to Sunflowers for Health, a fund created by his wife, Barbara to raise money for cancer research. Sunflowers for Health, 5 Brookside Terrace, Veazie, ME 04401. A celebration of his life will be held 11 a.m. Tuesday, May 24, 2005, at the Tighe Hamilton Funeral Home, 50 Central St. (on route 62 exit 26 off 495), Hudson, Mass. Calling hours will be 4-8 p.m. Monday, May 23, 2005.
CHARLES GUIDOTTI
