Charles D. Koteen

Charles Douglas Koteen, 77, died peacefully in his home on April 9, 2024. The son of Sherley and Bernie

Koteen, Chuck grew up in Washington, D.C. He graduated from University of Wisconsin/Madison, taking

up kayaking, a hobby that served him well when he moved to California to work at KCRA-TV as a

cameraman and occasional reporter. During his 10+ years in California, he kayaked most Central and

Northern California rivers, where the Ground Chuck rapid still bears his name. He moved to West

Hartford with wife Lois and children Sarah and Jake in 1981, doing still photography, including for

Governor O’Neill and many members of the Connecticut legislature. He continued to kayak, and picked

up skeet shooting, distance road biking – he loved riding his fixed gear bike in particular – and fly fishing.

He developed a partnership with the Town of East Hartford, turning the classrooms of the former Center

School into studio apartments for artists. But the jobs he loved most were being dad to daughter Sarah,

46, and son Jake, 43, and grandfather to his beloved grandchildren, John, Aubrie, Sam, Ansley and

Addie. Chuck was dedicated to his wife, Lois, doing most of the cooking so that she could work and

volunteer. He will be sorely missed by those whose lives he touched. The family wishes to thank the

people who cared for him at the end: Ruth, Shirley, Priya and Harris and the Hartford Healthcare Hospice

Team. The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, April 11 at Beth El Temple, 2626 Albany Ave., West

Hartford, CT. Donations may be made to the Koteen Family Fund at Beth El Temple, West Hartford, The

Koteen Family Scholarship Fund at Central CT State University, New Britain, or a charity of the donor’s choice.

Donations may be made to the Koteen Family Fund at Beth El Temple, West Hartford, The Koteen Family Scholarship Fund at Central CT State University, New Britain, or a charity of the donor’s choice.