November 19, 2021
He was one of us: Remembering our editor, Charles C. Joyce
By Joe Carr ’83
Taking in the majesty and excitement of Father Sicard’s presidential inauguration on Oct. 1, my thoughts drifted to Charlie Joyce and how much he would have enjoyed being part of that historic event.
Charlie, the long-time editor of Providence College Magazine who died on May 14 at the age of 64, admired Father Sicard and was delighted when Father was named president in 2019. Moreover, Charlie loved Providence College and he was always front-and-center at the grand and momentous occasions, whether they be commencement ceremonies, events involving high-profile visitors, or sports championships. And, precisely because he appreciated and understood the true nature of PC and its community, Charlie would also often just show up — camera strap around his neck — at those events attended by just a few but representing milestones to those involved.
“Let me just snap a couple of pictures, and I’ll email them to you,” he would say with a gentle lilt and friendly smile. “Maybe I’ll write up a little story for the news web page.”
By the way, he would put just as much energy and creativity into those five-paragraph web stories as cover stories for editions of this magazine. To Charlie, that was his job. The opportunity to make someone else feel good about what they had achieved was a bonus.
There was a beautiful consistency in the way Charlie lived his life, and it is reflected in the ways he is remembered. I cannot count the number of people who have approached me in the past few months to talk about Charlie and the same adjectives come up every time – kind, thoughtful, generous, and — without fail — nice. I have never known anyone nicer, and I cannot imagine that I ever will.
His commitment to others, and to service, extended far beyond his work life. Charlie served his beloved parish, St. Teresa of the Child Jesus in Pawtucket, as an extraordinary minister of the Eucharist, and he was active in the Knights of Columbus. In his adopted hometown of Seekonk, he was a loyal food pantry volunteer, first in line for town clean-up weekends, and he had a kind word for every person who crossed his path. And what a husband, father, brother, and uncle he was to those in the family he adored.
The magazine before this one – the one with Doris Burke ’87 on the cover – arrived in your mailbox just a few days after Charlie died. It was his magnum opus. Not only was it chockfull of great stories, launching PC’s celebration of the 50th anniversary of the first class of women students, but it shined a bright light on Charlie’s exceptional leadership abilities and the trademark stubbornness that he readily acknowledged. He worked on that magazine every day, through chemotherapy, radiation, and midwinter trips to Boston doctor’s appointments, managing an editorial and design staff that was working remotely for the most part. The pandemic complicated access to sources and story subjects and limited opportunities for new photography. Despite all those challenges, Charlie delivered — as always — an excellent product, on time, and — like everything else he touched — devoid of typos. It exemplified everything we admired most about him.
The son and brother of PC alums, Charlie graduated from URI — a choice he made because he wanted to study journalism, a program PC did not offer. A high school valedictorian with an unparalleled work ethic and deep Catholic faith, he no doubt would have thrived as a Friar (although we noticed that he quietly rooted for the Rams when the two schools squared off in basketball). While he may have lacked the bona fides certified by a PC diploma, he was one of us — a true Friar who modeled the college’s highest ideals by the way he lived his rich, fulfilling, and impactful life.
In that way, he was a great example for all who knew him, and we honor his memory every time we set aside self-interest in service of someone else, no matter how small the gesture may seem. That is what Charlie would have wanted, and it is a fitting legacy for this good soul who touched our lives and whom we miss so much.
Joe Carr ’83 is associate vice president for marketing and communications at Providence College.
obituary for charles c. joyce
