Charles William Syme

Charles Syme was born in San Francisco on June 5, 1935 to Elizabeth and Walter Syme. He was the adorable spoiled little brother of Katherine, Walter, Peggy, Betty and Benny. He had an idyllic childhood spent on Montana Street in San Francisco with his large loving family. He grew up playing lots of baseball and golf, and taking family vacations to the Russian River.

He was in the first graduating class at Riordan High School in 1953, when he took a beautiful redhead, Claudette Lafayette, to his senior prom. They married four years later and quickly started a family that would eventually grow from 6 kids plus spouses, to 26 grandchildren plus spouses, and then 25 great grandchildren. His family was the absolute most important thing in the world to him! He will be missed every day by his loving wife Claudette; his children Yvette (Bob) Singer, Kirk (Katie) Syme, Lianne (Reed) Thompson, Scott (Tracey) Syme, Betsy (Kerry) Bradford, and Julie (Clarke) Funkhouser; and by his grandchildren Cam Thompson (Kaitlyn), Kirk Syme Jr (Ashley), Iddy Richardson (Tom), Jennie Orphanopoulos ( Dre), Kyle Thompson, Cree Thompson (Darcy), Craig Thompson (Liz), William Syme (Alexandra), Julienne Lorenzen (Bobby), Scott Syme Jr, Danielle Giovanetti (Dom), Andie Moran (Brian), Adrienne Russell (Robert), Norrie Syme, Charlie Bradford (Dorothy), Jack Singer (Shannon), Gabby Thompson (John), Joe Singer, Hogan Bradford, Claudia Funkhouser, Callum Syme, Alec Bradford, Bobby Singer, Billy Funkhouser, Chase Funkhouser, and Cory Syme; and his great grandchildren Charlie, Olivia, Nate, Blake, Sofia, Andy, Madeline, Colette, Theo, Vivian, Oliver, Luke, Emmett, Isla, Forest, Miles, Siena, Levy, Callen, CJ, Colton, Cade, Remi, Georgia, and Sutton.

He had a long successful career as a broker and a real estate investor, primarily in San Francisco and San Mateo Counties. He co-founded and operated Aetna Realty for 45 years. He was an active member of the Olympic Club for over 60 years! He loved to play golf with his buddies, his sons, and his grandsons.

The family first lived in Westlake, next door to Our Lady of Mercy School for several years before moving to Incline Village, Lake Tahoe. There, he enjoyed his blue Supra boat and loved taking anyone for a slow ride around the lake to look at the beautiful homes. He knew everyone at Ski Beach, St. Francis of Assisi Church, IVGID, Ski Incline, and Raley’s. He enjoyed the Incline Golf Course to its fullest, spending countless summer evenings searching for golf balls with his kids, and sometimes taking risks to reach lost balls in the creek or in the pond on the 5th hole! Dad also enjoyed family time at their home on Kaanapali Beach in Maui. He loved getting a good tan, swimming in the warm ocean, and strolling along the beach at sunset to Black Rock.

They moved back the Bay Area in 1974 and settled in Hillsborough. He took walks nearly every night to downtown San Mateo, often stopping for ice cream and candy on his way to Central Park to watch a baseball game. He always had time to talk to anyone he ran into along the way, and he made sure he knew everyone’s name and everyone’s business! He was such an honest, sincere, genuine man who was known and loved and enjoyed by so many people. We were all so lucky to have been such a big important part of his world, and he will never ever be forgotten!

Services were held at Our Lady of Angels Church in Burlingame and he was laid to rest at Holy Cross Cemetery in Colma. Dad, we love you so much! Your legacy will most definitely live on forever.