Reverend Charles A. Lerrigo (STH ’63)
This obituary was originally posted by the California-Nevada Conference of The United Methodist Church and can be found here.
Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
It is with deep sadness that we inform you that our brother, Rev. Charles “Charley” Lerrigo, died on Saturday, October 10, 2020.
Charley began his ministry in the Troy Conference in New York. In 1974 he was appointed to serve in the Communications Office of the General Board of Global Ministries where he served for a decade. He transferred into the California-Nevada Conference in 1988, where he began his ministry among us as a Conference communications consultant. He was then appointed to serve Calvary and St. Francis churches in San Francisco, California while continuing to serve as the Editor of the California-Nevada United Methodist Reporter. Charley was then appointed to St. Paul’s UMC in Vacaville, California where he served until his retirement in 2003.
Brother Charley considered God his “first love” followed by journalism, a talent he employed to contribute to the making of faithful disciples of Jesus Christ and the transformation of the world. He had a deep love for the Hebrew scriptures and delighted in teaching others about the connections between Jewish heritage and Christian worship. He found creative ways to share these eternal faith connections by helping congregations respectfully and joyfully celebrate the rituals and traditions of Jewish holidays. Those he taught gained a deeper understanding of their own Christian faith.
In retirement, Charley continued to serve. He became a playwright, gaining a whole new group of friends through the Playwrights’ Center of San Francisco, and producing, writing and supporting several plays, some of which were done in worship at Epworth UMC of Berkeley, CA. He also preached and led small groups at Epworth. Most recently, he took part in a convergence of the faithful at the US/Mexico border to protest the detention of migrants and the separation of families. He was a passionate advocate for justice, especially for immigrants.
Charley is survived by his wife, Patricia Bruce-Lerrigo, and by his brother George Lerrigo, and sister-in-law Janice Lerrigo of Bennington Vermont, and by his niece Ellen Lerrigo Bishop. Condolences may be sent to Patricia at 4254 Gregory Street, Oakland CA 94619.
A private graveside memorial service will be held by the family.
Gifts in memory of Charley can be sent to the Equal Justice Initiative, 122 Commerce Street, Montgomery, AL 36104 or online at www.support.eji.org/give
Let us continue to give God thanks for Charley’s life and witness and hold his family close in prayer. In our living and in our dying, we belong to God! (Romans 14:8)
Blessings,
Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño