Charles Bardeen

Charles William (Bill) Bardeen of Oakland, CA passed away May 30th at age 85 in Oakland, CA surrounded by loved ones. Born in Vicksburg, MI in 1931, Bill made his living working in manufacturing (paper, auto parts) and retail, while maintaining a broad range of interests in history, politics and the arts. Possessed of a dry wit and a keen intelligence, he seemed to discover underground scenes right before they went mainstream, frequenting North Beach in the beatnik days (and seeing Carol Doda at the height of her powers at the Condor), Max's Kansas City in NYC during the Warhol era, and Oakland's art scene before the Art Murmur exploded. He sought anything off the beaten path: After a stint in the army post the Korean War, he visited Cambodia, Baghdad and Paris on the way home, and even checked out the opium dens in Bangkok. When he called something "wild," you knew you'd hit the mark. Bill is preceded in death by his sister Evelyn and his parents, and is survived by his sister Helen Andrejevic and brothers Maxwell and Norman Bardeen; his son Chris (Kerry Hanson) Bardeen, his daughters Jenny (Bryce Nelson) Bardeen, Sarah (Patrick McCully) Bardeen, and Kathryn (Sean Sandell) Bardeen; and seven grandchildren (with one more on the way): Owen and Clara Bardeen, Reece and Keziah Nelson, Liam McCully and Hannah Bardeen, and Elizabeth Grace and Baby Sandell. Bill was beloved by his immediate family and extended Bay Area family as a thoughtful, compassionate and considerate man. He will be deeply missed. In lieu of flowers, we ask that you consider a donation to the American Lung Association .