CHARLES J. PIERA

Charles J. Piera of Sundown, NY, 72, passed away Wednesday, August 1, 2012 at Catskill Regional Hospital, Harris, NY.

Born February 23, 1940 in Meriden, CT, he was the son of the late Carlos Piera of Pego, Spain, and the late Presentacion Riera Piera of Vergel, Spain.

Mr. Piera was a graduate of Choate in Wallinford, CT, class of 1958, and received a BA in History from Columbia University in 1962.He retired as Supervisor of Volunteer Services at Eastern Correctional Facility in Naponach in 2006, after 27 years.

He was the Steward for the Public Employees Federation, AFL-CIO and was a team leader for the Crisis Intervention Unit of the NYS Dept. of Corrections. In the 1960s, he was the road manager for the rock band Anonymous Artists in America. Piera was the Supervisor of the Town of Denning, 2001-2003, and was a volunteer tour guide at the Red Hill Fire Tower in the Town of Denning.

Surviving are his wife, Merrill Mecklem; his children, Loren Piera and his partner Fiona Malamen, Justin Muller and his wife Heather and Chantal Muller; his grandchildren, Mercedes Catania, Timothy Dolgas, Cassian Muller and Lisette and Pilar Piera-Tyree and their mother, Alicia Tyree; his sister Mari Carmen Piera and her husband Vicente Giner and their daughter Sara of Spain; his sister in law Sara Mecklem and her children Tessa and Arrow Kleeman of Woodstock, NY; and many friends.

A celebration of his life will be held Saturday, August 11, from 4 to 6 p.m. at his home.

In lieu of flowers and in recognition of Charlies lifelong concern for all watersheds and waterways, contributions may be made to Beacon Institute for Rivers and Estuaries, 199 Dennings Ave., Beacon, 12508; or Catskill Mountainkeeper, PO Box 381, Youngsville, NY 12791.