Charles John Packman (Charlie) was born in Philadelphia on January 17, 1950 and he passed away on March 15, 2025 in Plymouth Meeting.  Throughout his life, he was involved in the community as a personal trainer and as a coach and strength trainer of high school and college teams, notably Central Bucks East High School and the University of Pennsylvania, as a gym owner in Ambler and as a Nautilus manager on the Main Line and in Doylestown.

Charlie developed personalized training programs for amateurs and athletes with the goals of building strength and, most importantly, preventing injuries.  Charlie's "high intensity" program integrating nutrition, body building and strength training, was ideal for serious student athletes, professionals, and personal clients who needed short, more concentrated workouts that were not scheduled every day but were extraordinarily effective.

In a 1986 news article, Charlie was quoted as saying, "My job is to prevent injuries by making the athlete stronger and more flexible.  If his or her getting stronger helps in competition, well and good, but the primary responsibility of training is to prevent injury."   He was very proud that the Penn Quakers won the Ivy League Football Championship under his training, but he always said that the best part of the championship year was that no one got injured!

Charlie also consulted with professional players including Franco Harris and professional teams such as the Minnesota Vikings and the Philadelphia Eagles.  He was a serious body builder who trained many acclaimed national title winning body builders. He loved playing football, and at 6"3", was also a basketball player in club play and high school.  He was a leader of his Chestnut Hill Academy football team and played middle linebacker at Lafayette College where he studied  anthropology, sociology, and religion.

When he decided to go into personal training, he was involved with Bodyworks by Nautilus Inc. and became co-manager of Main Line Nautilus.  He was owner-director of Doylestown Nautilus for 4 years before becoming the University of Pennsylvania's first full time strength coach, supervising weight and strength training for 28 varsity teams.  He then opened "Charlie Packman Fitness," his gym in Ambler, and worked with local college and high school teams on strength training as well as anyone trying to become more fit and more healthy.  After a heart attack in 2012 and subsequent heart and kidney transplants, he concentrated on personal training and fitness at his Plymouth Meeting home for a wide variety of dedicated clients who became a support and care group at the end of his life.

Charlie was a dedicated participant as a barbarian leader in the Society for Creative Anachronisms and he led the eastern PA group to the Festivals of Life.  He was known as "Cha," "The Mighty Cha," "Cha of the Tuchux," the  "King of the Tuchux," and "Chaz Packman."  A student of Native American cultures, Charlie often participated in festivals and ceremonies.  His love of animals, particularly horses and cats, led him to volunteer at the Main Line Animal Rescue.

Charlie leaves his two first cousins, Hedra Packman and Ira Packman, and their families to remember and love the amazing person he was.  His presence at family events added excitement, fun, and great storytelling - he was a favorite cousin for all ages.  There will be a memorial celebration of Charlie's life on May 31, 2025 at 1PM at Springside Chestnut Hill Academy (500 West Willow Grove Avenue, Philadelphia PA).  We will gather in the Exchange where refreshments will be available, walk to the football field for a toast to Charlie, and then welcome any remembrances in the Chapel.  In lieu of flowers, please send your donations in Charlie Packman's memory to the Main Line Animal Rescue (1149 Pike Springs Rd, Chester Springs, PA 19425).