Memorial Service for Professor of the Practice Charlie Rabie
Charlie E. Rabie, Professor of the Practice at Tufts Gordon Institute, passed away on Friday, May 15 at in Brookline, Massachusetts after a valiant battle with pancreatic cancer.
A memorial service to remember Charlie and celebrate his life will be held on August 11.
Memorial Service for Charlie E. Rabie
Tuesday, August 11, 4:30pm
Tufts University
Granoff Hillel Center
220 Packard Avenue
Medford, MA
A reception will be held immediately following the service.
Parking is available behind the Hillel Center, Carmichael Hall and Miller Hall lots (http://campusmaps.tufts.edu/medford/)
Please RSVP to MaryAnn (mary.diramio@tufts.edu).
The son of Rouben and Noor Rabie, Charlie was born in Montreal, Canada on December 25, 1951. He studied computer science at Concordia University and began his career with the Montreal Engineering Company in 1974. He served as Operations Manager for the firm and worked on many international projects, including the upgrade of the NORAD early warning system. In the late 1980s, he established a firm called Megalith Technologies in Ottawa. His company had several breakthroughs in contracts with the Canadian military and Mobil Oil. Charlie’s contributions were recognized in the mid-1990s by the Minister of Industry John Manley. In 1996, his company was purchased by Dataware, a large Boston firm, and he and his family relocated to Boston. He then served as Senior VP of Products for Aspect Communications, a leading international company specializing in call center technologies. His responsibilities included leading a team of 300 professionals located around the globe, covering product management, quality assurance, and training.
Charlie joined Tufts Gordon Institute (TGI) as a lecturer in 2006, and was appointed to Professor of the Practice in 2008. Throughout his time at Tufts, Charlie was recognized not only for expertise in technology and business, but also for his deep commitment and engagement with students. He worked tirelessly to help students become effective and visible leaders within their organizations. He taught courses in business strategy and also directed the project-based components of the M.S. in Engineering Management (MSEM) curriculum. Respected and admired for his experience and professionalism, alumni of the MSEM program continued to reach out to Charlie long after they graduated to seek his advice and counsel.
Always a champion of new technologies, Charlie was a leader in working across the University to seek out opportunities to integrate technology in the classroom. On a personal level, he had a particular interest in electric cars, and he and his wife Ruty were the first Americans to buy the BMW’s fully electric I3. He received much press in Boston where he spoke at length of the car’s technological advances and high level performance.
Charlie put others ahead of himself and saw the silver lining in all things. Whether it was a negotiation or a dispute, Charlie sought solutions that would create a win for both sides. A warm, thoughtful and generous man, Charlie will be profoundly missed by the many people he touched at Tufts and throughout his life.
He is survived by his loving wife Ruty, his much loved sons Robbie and Michael, his beloved surviving sisters Adele and Gloria, and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives, and friends.