CHARLES BASHARA, 80, of 156 Kittredge Road, Pittsfield, died Sunday,
December 28, at Berkshire Medical Center.
Born in Adams, May 5, 1928, the son of Charles G. and Christena Mekdeci
Bashara, both of Lebanon, he graduated in 1946 from the former Adams High School as
president of his senior class, and earned his letter in football.
He entered the United States Navy a week after graduation, and after boot camp,
he joined the crew of the newly-commissioned U.S.S. Toledo, traveling the world twice.
He was honorably discharged in 1949 with the rank of Fire Controlman Third Class.
Following his service, he attended Bentley College, then in Boston.
Mr. Bashara managed the former Midway Caf� in Adams and the former Hi Way
Diner in Lenox.
On January 1, 1964, Mr. Bashara and his cousin, Leo E. Massery, bought the
Tyler Restaurant in Pittsfield. He became sole proprietor in 1974 upon the retirement of
Mr. Massery.
Since 2000, Mr. Bashara worked part-time at the restaurant with his son, Jeffrey,
and enjoyed winters with his wife and family at their home in Sarasota, Florida. He also
loved walking through the woods at their Becket camp that he liked to call "Charlie's
Little Acre".
He enjoyed sports, especially swimming, fishing, golfing, playing cards,
entertaining, singing, and sharing jokes. He was proud of his Lebanese-American
heritage and was fluent in Arabic. Above all, he enjoyed being with his family and his friends.
Mr. Bashara was a communicant of the former parishes of St. Teresa, St. Mary
the Morning Star, and St. Francis Xavier.
He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, the Berkshire County Deputy
Sheriff's Association, the Florida Sheriff's Association, the Adams Elks Club, the
Veterans of Foreign Wars in Pittsfield, the Mountain Club in Adams, and the YMCA.
Mr. Bashara married the former Souad Aboughanim on June 30, 1956.
Besides his wife, Mr. Bashara leaves two sons, Dr. Charles G.N. Bashara of
Washington, D.C., and Jeffrey G. Bashara of Pittsfield; a daughter, Christena M.
Keyes of Lanesborough; a daughter-in-law, Mary Vasques-Slack; a son-in-law, Delmont
Keyes of Lanesborough; five grandchildren, Jessica Bashara, Jeffrey Bashara, and
Charles Bashara, and Cedar Keyes and Saville Keyes; a sister, Priscilla Ziter of Adams;
two godchildren, Joni Thomas of Pittsfield, and Lanesborough Police Chief Mark Bashara, and many nieces and nephews world-wide.
He was pre-deceased by three brothers, Frederick Bashara, Phillip Bashara, and
Francis Bashara; and a sister, Mary Thomas.

FUNERAL NOTICE: A Liturgy of Christian Burial for CHARLES BASHARA, who died Sunday,
December 28, will be Saturday, January 3, at 9:00 a.m., at St. Charles Church, celebrated
by Rev. Peter A. Gregory, Pastor. Burial will follow in St. Joseph's Cemetery. Calling
hours will be Friday, from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m., at DERY FUNERAL HOME. In lieu of
flowers, contributions in memory of Mr. Bashara may be made to Pittsfield Fire
Department, HospiceCare in The Berkshires, or to County Ambulance Service, all in
care of the Funeral Home, 54 Bradford Street, Pittsfield.

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