Longtime CJR social worker, lived life to the fullest

TORRINGTON – Charles “Chuck” Abraham Coury, 68, originally of Torrington, died Monday, Oct. 10, 2022, after a long fight with Parkinson’s disease.

Chuck is known to have been unbelievably generous, hysterically funny, kind to everyone, and especially kind to pretty women. Born and raised in the north end of Torrington, the son of Nimar and Mary (Narsiff) Coury, he graduated with a 4.0 from Torrington High School. It was a 10-point scale.

Chuck was a captain of the Torrington High football team and excelled at karate and boxing. He passed on his knowledge of martial arts as a father by teaching his young children how to use nunchucks, Sais and bo staffs by the age of 7.

Chuck was known for studying (girls), dancing (with girls), and charming his (female) classmates. He made many lifelong friends at THS and was proud to have been a Raider.

He went on to “study” social work at UConn, where Chuck made a group of friends that would spend their rest of their lives functioning as family. He was the lead singer of a band called the “Polish Cowboys,” and was famously known for dropping down into a split, jumping back up, grabbing the mic, and continuing the song in one motion.

He occasionally attended classes (typically after noon) and wandered the hallways at night chatting (with girls) and waking up his buddies. Eventually he met the one who inspired him to settle down, Nancy (Richardson) Woznicki. Chuck and Nancy would go disco dancing, antiques shopping, and landed jobs together at the Connecticut Junior Republic, marrying soon after.

Their two children were the lights of Chuck’s life: Daniel James Coury and Jessica Nazera (Coury) Papp. And although their marriage didn’t last, they were very close right up until the end.

Professionally, during his nearly 40 years at Connecticut Junior Republic, Chuck was unmatched in his desire to help teenaged boys rehabilitate, heal, grow, learn, and reenter society in a positive way. Taking on teenagers that most everyone had given up on, his strategy was simple: show them unmatched love and respect.

He took pride in becoming a licensed clinical social worker, and constantly encouraged and assisted coworkers to grow and advance their careers. Positively impacting countless lives of the kids and staff over decades, he is a true legend at CJR, where his hilarious antics and epic stories live on to this day.

Chuck maintained hundreds of friendships; he and his friends loved to laugh and to make a little mischief on their many Vegas vacations, ski weekends and golf trips. They traveled the country and the world together, making unforgettable memories, many of which we cannot repeat here without redacting lots of information.

Ahead of his time, he founded two fantasy sports leagues in the mid-’80s, and actually came in first once or twice over the years. His league has been renamed the “Chuck Coury Fantasy Baseball League.”

On any given night, Chuck might have been found cheering his kids on in sports, on a date with a beautiful woman, or running the craps tables at Foxwoods. He considered UConn basketball winning national championships, and UConn football defeating Notre Dame (a game he attended), to be “life goals.”

He enjoyed being a “Secret Santa,” paying off many layaways at local stores that had toys in them. He would be upset that we are sharing that secret, but that’s the man he was. He would give rides to his children’s classmates, buy them dinner, sneakers, even pay their athletic fees, and he truly loved doing it.

Chuck was the best father in the world. Period. He always made life magical for his kids, and would have a surprise, a scavenger hunt or an adventure planned.

With every accolade his children received, he felt more pride than them. He loved teaching his kids about culture, about pulling off pranks, and about the right way to tell a tale, telling them: “Never let the truth get in the way of a good story.”

Chuck was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease at only 54 years old. Most would grieve and rage against this fate, not Chuck. He ordered a cake with a swear word on it (F-Parkinson’s!), told his family that it wouldn’t let it slow him down, and never looked back.

He traveled as far as Iceland to learn about the latest research on the disease, and volunteered to be part of many studies and experiments that will assist in the future treatment and prevention of this devastating disease.

When he became a “Gido” (grandfather) with his first grandchild, he promised he would hang in for another seven years, because his doctor explained that was the age that children would certainly have a permanent memory of him. When his next grandchild came, he made the same promise, and again with the third and the fourth.

Chuck fulfilled his promises: his youngest grandchild will be 7 in just a few months; Julianna, Maura, Addie and J.T. will always have wonderful memories of their sweet Gido: they miss him very much. Chuck loved his family deeply and was so proud of his Lebanese heritage.

He was predeceased by his parents Nimar and Mary; his brothers David, John, William and Jerry; and his sister Marcia.

He is survived by his children, Daniel J. Coury of Collinsville, and Jessica N. Papp (James) of Torrington; and his grandchildren Julianna Rose Papp, Maura Rose Coury, Adeline Lee Coury and James Thomas Papp; by his brother, Nimar T. Coury Jr.; as well as many adoring cousins, nieces, nephews, and countless friends.

Chuck had so many (literally) unbelievable and uproarious stories that deserve to be cherished forever.

He was also quite adamant when it came to his final wishes, insisting that money is not spent on flowers or other gestures for him, but instead collected for a college fund for his grandkids. Even in his final days, he was selfless.

Therefore, his children have created a website where we can all share and read our favorite “Chuck stories.” And for those wishing to contribute to the college fund, information can be found on this site as well. Please visit chuckcourystories.com.

To say that he will be remembered and missed are huge understatements. Dan and Jess are so proud to be his children and are so thankful to all those that loved Chuck.

Calling hours will be on Friday, Oct. 21, 5 to 7 p.m. at Phalen Funeral Home, 285 Migeon Ave. in Torrington. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 22, at St. Maron Church, 613 Main St. in Torrington. The burial will follow at the New Saint Francis Cemetery, 863 S. Main St. in Torrington, and a celebration of life will follow at Salt 2.0 on Main Street in Torrington; phalenfuneral.com.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Coury grandchildren’s college fund by going to chuckcourystories.com.

In honor of Chuck, do something he would do … be kind to a stranger, make someone feel like the most special person in the room, break a few rules, buy something that will bring you joy, tell someone that they are beautiful, give someone a hand up, make every child feel seen and heard and important.

Make memories. Tell the same funny stories over and over about things you’ve done. Be proud of your loved ones. Stop at every lemonade stand, even if you are in a hurry, and tip big!

Laugh. Belly laugh. Laugh until you cry. Be brave. Give of yourself. Be a friend to all. Love your children and your children’s friends. Love your family. Love your life. Don’t leave anything unsaid. Live life out loud.

“Be an adventurer. … Tourists have pictures, adventurers have stories.”–Chuck Coury. phalenfuneral.com.

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