Charles Starzynski

October 10, 1952October 20, 2022

Charles Starzynski has passed. He leaves behind the brightly glowing embers of his warm and varied life in the memories of all who knew him.

Born on October 10, 1952 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, he attended St. Pius X High School, often wearing a jacket with the United States flag sewn on the back. (That was an act of protest back then.). He graduated from the University of Montana in Missoula. At UM and with the Virginia City Players he indulged his avocation for acting and all things theater.

In Missoula Charlie worked at the Golden Pheasant Restaurant to pay for college. There he blossomed into a superb chef under the tutelage of Bill and Marlene Wiles. In the process they grew to be close lifelong friends, and it would become Charlie’s pleasure and passion to prepare exquisite meals for friends and family for the rest of his life.

He moved to Sacramento, California in the early 70’s, where he joined public radio station KXPR. As Program Director, he and his colleagues Phil Corriveau, Jeff Browne and Susan Kelley developed KXPR into one of the premier public radio stations in the nation, broadcasting classical music and jazz, news and public affairs programming 24 hours a day. That success in turn led to the launch of KXJZ to program the requisite jazz for the public radio demographic. Both stations continue to thrive as part of Capital Public Radio.

And it was there in 1983 that he met the smart and glamorous Karsan Elliott. Ten years later they married in a sparkling home wedding laced with theater. His niece Justine Starzynski, herself an accomplished high school Shakespearean actor, declaimed the Bard’s magical lines from A Midsummer Night’s Dream, from a staircase to the guests below.

It was the play within the wedding.

Karsan brought to the marriage Elliott’s, a thriving health food business in the suburbs of Sacramento. (The original Elliott’s, now on El Camino in Sacramento, is owned and operated by Charlie’s other favorite niece, Amber Elliot.) Together Karsan and Charlie grew the business into multiple locations with the help of smart and dedicated employees, whom they treated like extended family.

Charlie, Chas, Uncle Charlie, Uncle Chili – he was the favorite uncle of his nephews and nieces. Whenever he and Karsan were in town, there was always an expertly prepared Chef Starzynski dinner, accompanied by animated conversations that spanned classical music and history and current affairs and, of course, politics. Throughout his life he remained firmly persuaded that rationality and compassion were two touchstones of an ordered society and a decent civic life.

Poet, photographer, chef, entrepreneur, world traveler, bon vivant, old Ford Mustang mechanic, public radio personality, classical music expert, thespian, progressive Democrat. Charlie was a kind and generous person who always took pleasure in making others happy. He enjoyed small things in life and making them into special events. He is survived by Karsan, his wife of 29 years, his remaining brother James Starzynski (Joy Read), his nieces Amber and Justine (Don Hotch), his nephews Grayson Elliot, Colbran Starzynski (Meghan Martinez and their children Lori, Nina and Ricardo), Lucien Starzynski, Alex Starzynski and Elijah Starzynski, and by lots of cousins in Oklahoma (the Winningham side) and Pennsylvania (the Starzynski side). And by many, many dear friends.

In lieu of flowers, readers are encouraged to donate to their favorite public radio station in his name.