Charles F. Hervey ... owner of Hervey Tire; at 87

Charles F. Hervey, 87, died peacefully in his home on Feb. 17, 2023. Born on June 10, 1935,
in Rochester, he was the son of Richard and Alice (Meacham) Hervey.
Charlie graduated from Spaulding High School, Class of 1955. Soon after graduation, he
enlisted in the Army and served two years in the Presidential Honor Guard in Washington D.C., during the Eisenhower administration.

He married Jane Fernald, and after his service they settled in Rochester. They were married for 68 years.
In 1964 Charlie took over the family business, Hervey's Tire Company, and began expanding it into what it is today. Charlie was a very well respected businessman in the Rochester community, and in the national tire industry as well. In 2021 he received the Hall of Fame Award from the New England Tire & Service Association (NETSA).
In addition to running the tire shop, Charlie also served for 13 years with the Rochester Fire Department from 1956-1969 as a call-man with the Rank of Lieutenant, but his business was continuing to expand and he had to step down. Later, from 1980-1987, Charlie served on the Rochester City Council, representing Ward 2 under the administration of his good friend, Mayor Richard (Dick) Green.
Charlie contributed much to the Rochester community with charitable donations over the years and was a longtime member of The Rochester Elks Lodge #1393, Club Victoire, and the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce. In 2010, he was the recipient of the Chamber's Business Leader of the Year award.
People in Rochester knew Charlie and Hervey's Tire for another reason, which was "The Sign" that features daily inspirational quotes, something that Charlie started doing in the late 1970s.
Charlie would put up a new quote every business day, May through October, with the sole purpose of inspiring or amusing people when they passed by. What he started back then on a large window in the office of the tire shop evolved to the large exterior electronic sign of today.
Charlie loved animals, especially dogs, and he had a big place in his heart for English bulldogs. He could be seen every day walking with his dog, and in later years he would walk his son Alan's dog Max and they would stop by a local bank and "make the rounds". Charlie was very active all his life with walking and riding his bike, even into his 70s. At times would ride all the way to the family camp on Merrymeeting Lake from Rochester on an old bike with only one speed.
In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his son, Richard. Surviving in addition to his wife Jane are his sons, Stephen Hervey and his wife Tanya of Rochester, and Alan Hervey of Rochester; daughter-in-law Theresa Hervey of Rochester; four grandchildren: Lea Hervey, Alice Hervey, Ryan Hervey and Evan Hervey; a great-granddaughter, Sophia Longstaff; one brother, George Hervey and his wife Irene, and a nephew, James Hervey.