Charles Howard Brintlinger

Charles Howard Brintlinger died peacefully on September 27, just a week after his ninety-second birthday. Born on September 20, 1931, Charles lived his entire life in Barrington, Illinois and died there in hospice care after a long illness. He was the son of Howard R. Brintlinger and Rose (Walbaum) Brintlinger and brother of Jane (Brintlinger) Leck, all of whom preceded him in death.

Charles earned his first bachelor’s degree at Ripon College in Wisconsin and later earned a second degree in civil engineering at Northwestern University. He also spent three years in the Marine Corps, stationed in Las Vegas, Nevada.

In 1961, Charles married Virginia (Ginny) Bolin. Together they had three children: Rose Ellen, Angela Kay, and Herbert Walter, later known as Bill. Raising the children in Barrington near his mother, Charles started his career as an engineer for Cook County managing road construction. In 1967 he began working for IBM where he quickly showed his talents as a systems engineer. In 25 years with the company, Charles commuted all over the Chicago area to clients who prized his ability to service their mainframe computers and to write specialized programs for them in fourteen different languages. He taught at IBM schools in New York, Florida, Texas, and California and was highly appreciated as a mentor to other computer programmers.

During these years, he developed his athletic side, running many 10K and marathon races, as well as biking and swimming. Charles also lifted weights at the YMCA and in his basement, ultimately benching 300 pounds.

In later years, Charles met Patricia (Etten) Zoeller and they married in 2001 at a romantic ceremony on a beach in Mexico. They proceeded to enjoy twenty-two years together. He became a beloved stepfather and grandfather to Pat’s five children, eleven grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren, and had four grandchildren, two step-grandchildren, and two step-great-grandchildren of his own. Throughout his life he had a great affection for babies, and he loved looking at photos and videos as well as visiting with family in Wisconsin, Ohio, and California.

Family obligations did not prevent Charles and Pat from pursuing an active social life, particularly in Marco Island and Naples, Florida, where they enjoyed spending the winter months. He loved the lake view at their condo in Lake Barrington Shores and especially relished long summer days and beautiful autumn weather when the leaves began to turn. He adored all three of the dogs in his life, Cinder, Marshall, and Dolly, who survives him. Charles was cared for in recent years by Jocelyn McIntire, Lyn Graber, and Heather Kierl. Everyone who met him found him charming and funny. He will be missed.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, November 19 at 1 PM with luncheon to follow at 2 PM at The Lodge at the Shores, Lake Barrington Shores, 64 Old Barn Rd., Lake Barrington, IL 60010.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to one of Charles’s favorite charities, SmileTrain, https://www.smiletrain.org/ .