Sorry for your Loss, Chuck was a great, fun guy
He’ll be greatly missed by all of us

Chuck and I were partners in the Cub season seats for the past 17 years. He also did my taxes. Chuck kept assiduous records of our Cub investment sending me numerous spread sheets written in accountant lingo that frequently left me scratching my head. However, Chuck was on top of it and by season’s end we were always solvent enough to invest in next year. I’ll miss the spread sheets, but most of all I’ll miss sitting with Chuck on lazy summer days at Wrigley Field.
Tom Manaher

Our hearts are broken and our thoughts are with Charlie’s family and his many friends. We have lost one of the good guys. So many memories of Charlie with a huge smile for everyone he met. The room was always brighter with him in it.

I was introduced to Charlie only about five years ago; but my life is surely richer for it. God bless!

Zap was a wonderful friend for 40 years. During that time he kept me out of trouble with the IRS and got me and my wife into fun trouble at Murphy’s Bleachers after the Cub games we attended together. I talked with him the day before he went into Hines and not a complaint was heard about what he was going though. Even as the end was coming, he was “True Grit” just like his hero would have been. I’m so happy there will be a service Saturday so that all who loved him can have closure together for a life well lived.

Chuck (catcher) and I (pitcher) were the battery for the CBI softball team in the 70’s and then would hydrate at the York Tap. A great friend for almost 50 years. Super guy!

I met Charlie during college at De Paul University. We pledged Alpha Delta Gamma fraternity together and started a lifelong friendship. Over the years we fished, we drank, we bowled, we had many Cubs versus White Sox discussions and generally enjoyed our times together. We bonded as fellow Bohemians. It’s hard to imagine all this ending so suddenly. I’ll miss the big guy. My heartfelt condolences to his family

Our hearts and prayers on the loss of a great man. We shared a lot of good times together including the Cubs games and will miss him dearly. God Bless you my friend!!

Charlie was many things to me. He was my boss, my mentor, and most of all, my friend.

Working with Charlie was tons of fun. We worked out of his home, which made things very interesting. Charlie would watch TV while I worked, however, if the Cubs hit a home run, I was watching the replay sometimes the remainder of the game. If a famous actor was on Kung Fu or The Andy Griffith Show I was watching. If someone sent him a funny video via email, I was watching. It’s a miracle I got any work done. He introduced me to Amos ‘n’ Any and The Smothers Brothers. He couldn’t believe that I had never watched either.

There are so many things I could say about Choo Choo Charlie, but I’ll try to keep it short because I can go on and on about him. He loved his trains, his Cubs, Foghorn Leghorn, and bowling. He loved to change the lyrics of Saturday Night by the Bay City Rollers and sing B-O-W-L-I-N-G Night instead while dancing in his office. It was his ritual song and dance before his Tuesday and Thursday evening league nights. So funny! He loved music. When there was nothing on TV to watch, we had theme days. Some days it was Motown, others it was Elvis, we had disco days, and then there was country, lots and lots of country. Even though Charlie made work fun, I learned so much from him. He was a great mentor. He was extremely intelligent.

Aside from work, we were buddies. We never went to a Cubs game together, but he gave me tickets to many games so that I could take my dad who is a huge Cubs fan too. He gave me some of his World Series game memorabilia for me and my dad. Awesomeness! Charlie and I hung out at Eden Lanes, Christopher’s Speakeasy, and Joe’s Saloon. We spent a lot of time together outside of work. My friends adored Charlie. Everywhere he went, he was the life of the party. There was always singing, dancing, and a lot of laughing. Did I mention country music? There was a lot of country music. My friends and I always got a kick from I Don’t Look Good Naked Anymore by Johnny Brady and Tight Fittin’ Jeans by Conway Twitty. The latter was a joke about my jeans. (Very funny Charlie!)

During the lockdown, he would call me from Costco with his “pandemic finds” which included things such as a case of toilet paper, a gallon of hand sanitizer, a case of paper towels, and who could live without a giant container of cheese puffs or pretzels. It was like he struck gold! He needed to make sure that I also had enough “pandemic supplies” too. He also worried about my parents. Needless to say, I am down to half a gallon of hand sanitizer. He was so adorable!

My favorite thing about Charlie was how excited he got every time he saw deer. One would swear it was the first time each time. Yesterday I stopped by his home to discuss some things with his nephew. I took my son with me. On our way home, he counted 18 deer. My son said they were a sign from my sweet friend. Thanks for that Charlie!

My only regret is not having spent more time with Charlie this year. I had surgery followed by a very long recovery, developed another health issue, then the pandemic hit. Unfortunately, I only saw him about a dozen times this year. Some were short visits on his driveway at a distance. We called and emailed, but it’s not the same. I missed hugging my super tall friend.

Charlie was a genuinely good person. He wasn’t that way some of the time, he was that way all of the time. Because of his vibe, he brought out the best in people. That is the greatest quality a person can have. We can all strive to be more like him.

Thank you Charlie for everything you taught me, for giving me wonderful memories, and most of all, for being so good to me. I love you Charlie and will miss you for the rest of my life. Until we meet again.

PS Make sure you teach everyone up there how to dance the Macarena.

~ My condolences to his family and all who loved him as he was so easy to love. ~

Zapotocky family. Please accept my heartfelt condolences. I’m one of chuckie’s cousins, Carrie I am so saddened to hear of his passing. He was definitely one of my favorite people. He was so lighthearted. He always made me laugh, And not take myself so seriously. Again. I am so sorry.

I feel privileged to have known Chuck for over 55 years – and he’s always been the same delightful, friendly and engaging person. I am also proud to note that we were fraternity brothers.

How sad that such a great guy can slip away from us so quickly. Rest in peace Chuck.

My life is better for having known Chuck for the past 42 years. Not only was he a first rate accountant, but equally important a wonderful and congenial guy. I can’t imagine anyone not liking Chuck Zapotocky. So sad he has been taken from us.

As a fraternity brother, a year behind Chuck, I got a mound of memorable recollections of my friendship with him. The best one, though, is the wedding gift he gave me and my wife, Chris – he prepared our tax returns for that year – an accountant’s accountant, he was. Best gift ever! Thanks, Chuck! Rest in peace.

Chuck has been a great friend for a long time to not only me but to my family and friends that were special enough to meet him. He was my accountant for the past 17 years for my business and personal taxes. I’ve known him for many years prior and he always had a goofy personality about himself. I would always call him Chuckles in charge, or crooked Charlie. LOL he did great for me. He loved going to Aruba and Cubs games. I was fortunate enough to be able to go to Wrigley with him several times but never made it to Aruba. He will be missed dearly and has left a huge hole in our hearts. God bless you CHUCKLES.
Love you man!

We called Chuck Zapatocky Uncle Chuck around my house, even though he wasn’t a blood uncle. He was our spirit Uncle, and what a great, and incredibly tall spirit he was! Uncle Chuck started out as my dad’s accountant and ended up his lifelong friend. Whenever he called my dad’s house and missed him, he’d leave the following message on our answering machine, “Hey Zing, this is Zap. Call me back.” I remember his house with his cascading waterfall of paper from literally every surface, and his train set and puppies and his wonderful Bohemianism. I’m so sorry for your loss. He was so good to my family and me. I’d like to think that he’s everyone’s spirit uncle now.

I’ve known Chuck professionally for only 5 years, but he quickly showed his class and the personality I’ve seen described by others…

Early in our interaction, Chuck worked on a rather complex situation for me…. when done he told me that it was a learning experience for him and it wouldn’t be fair to charge by the hour – he told me to pay him what I thought was fair –

I wish I knew him longer …

Our deepest sympathy

John Grabowski

We are so sorry for your loss. Charlie is in our thoughts and prayers.

Chuck and I were classmates in the Riverside Brookfield HS class of ’61. I always enjoyed every conversation with Chuck. He was one of the best natured people I have ever met. He will be missed by so many dear family and friends.

I will miss your hugs, your smile, I will miss you Chuck! Your cousin Sylviak

I knew Chuck as an RB classmate. Please accept my deepest sympathy.

I’ve known Chuck my whole life. When I was a baby, Chuck gave me my first stuffed animal. My dad used to joke that he should have asked Chuck to be my godfather and then I could have learned to play poker, appreciate the Cubs and travel to Aruba. I will really miss Chuck’s sense of humor and his kindness.

Charlie, I miss you terribly. You were my rock,my confidant,my dear friend who took good care of me.i will miss our dinners out,baseball games,and just me showing up at your house and just talking and laughing, just making me feel great in having a special friend like my Charlie.My condolences to your family,how lucky they were to have you in their family.With much respect to the Zap family

I just stumbled across Chuck’s obit while trying to look him up online. Two months too late – or if the truth be known, many years too late. Distance separated us after growing up together, school and the softball teams he organized. And many nights at Blue Bonnet. Chuck was a good friend. I hope to see him again.

He was a good friend. I met him in 1988 in Hinsdale when we had an office next to his on York. I was just out of college working for a software company and he gave me a lot of good advice. Viewed him as an uncle since my uncles never spent a minute with me. He took me to Cub games and was a great fan. We used to go to some bar on Racine he liked. Always had a smile and not a mean bone in his body. Just heard about this today. To the family : I am sorry for you loss. The guy treated me better than my family and did my taxes for over 30 years

I knew Chuck from grade school at Gross in Brookfield, lost touch after high school. Nice guy with a smile on his face all the time. Prayers for the family and for Chuck.