Chasm – Charles Smith
Montague – who was at the BJ for more than 40 years, passed away May 7.
Chasm was one of
my favorite people at the BJ and there was a LOT of competition for that honor
because the BJ newsroom had astounding talent and personalities.
Chasm knew how
to enjoy life. More people should try it.
The Steubenville
native married Rebecca Orosz. They had two sons, Jonathan and Joshua Montague,
who with wife Amanda makes delightful chocolates at Lilly
Handmade Chocolates in Cleveland owned by Amanda. One of their customers was
Kelly Clarkson of American Idol fame.
Chasm retired from the BJ in 2008 in the same week
that photographer/page designer Ted Schneider and photographer Lew Stamp did. Now
Chasm and Ted are reunited in the afterlife.
Chasm was big in helping stage the famous Iditarod Trail Dog
Sled Race from Anchorage to Nome in Alaska.
Chasm visited 1970s BJ State Desk reporter Cathy Strong in
Wellington, New Zealand, where Cathy is renown world-wide for her Massey
University faculty work. Former BJ photographer Don Roese and I also visited
Cathy, back to back, one year. So did Fran Murphey, BJ’s extraordinary
columnist who made common folks famous.
When
I contributed to the BJ Layoff Auction, Chasm gave me three lights from the BJ
tower which I treasure and keep in my den for daily viewing.
One of his sons,
Josh, wrote his obituary which will appear in Thursday’s BJ. I can’t add much
to it. Chasm would be proud of Josh’s writing:
Charles
"Chuck" Smith Montague, a renowned journalist, loving father, and
doting grandfather, passed away on May 7, 2023.
Born in
Steubenville, Ohio, in the 1940s, Chuck devoted his life to his family, his
fervor for journalism, and his enthusiasm for sports.
An academic
scholar, Chuck spent a summer interning in Munich, Germany, before graduating
from the esteemed Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University in 1969.
He launched his
illustrious journalism career in Elyria, Ohio, before joining the Akron Beacon
Journal in the early 1970s. Chuck's journalistic accomplishments at the Akron
Beacon Journal spanned over four decades, during which he served as a reporter,
editor, and headline writer.
While at the
Akron Beacon Journal, Chuck was part of the courageous newsroom team covering
the tragic Kent State protest and shootings in 1970. Their efforts were
recognized with the prestigious 1971 Pulitzer Prize for General Local
Reporting.
Alongside his
professional accomplishments, Chuck passionately advocated for the fair
treatment of Akron Newspaper Guild members, actively participating in labor
contract negotiations during the 1970s and 1980s.
A man of many
talents, Chuck also excelled as a pitcher for the Beacon Journal Bombers Men's
Softball team.
After graduating
from Ohio University, Chuck married Rebecca Orosz. Together, they raised two
sons, Jonathan and Joshua Montague, instilling a passion for sports and a deep
appreciation for education. Both sons, Montessori, Cuyahoga Falls, and Hudson
School alums, pursued successful careers and established their own families.
Later in life,
Chuck became an Ohio Soccer Association referee, achieving the remarkable feat
of refereeing soccer games in all 50 US states. His zest for travel persisted
into retirement, leading him on eco-tourism adventures to places like Baja
California, the Galapagos Islands, Antarctica, and Alaska.
Chuck's warmth,
wit, and commitment to his craft left an indelible mark on his family, friends,
and colleagues, who will cherish his memory. His sons Jon and Josh (Amanda),
grandsons Charlie and Gibson, and a vast community inspired by his kindness,
intelligence, and generosity will carry forward his legacy.
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