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OBITUARY CAPTAIN CHARLES ROBERT MACVEAN 89-days, it was Ellen who looked after the wives and families at home, a U.S. Navy extended family, helping solve daily problems, occasionally handling far worse. One new mother lost her child just a day or two after giving birth. Ellen stepped in to help with arrangements and grief. She recalls, “I went to the naval hospital in Oakland to be with her. She was amaz- ingly strong. She waited for her husband to come home to have a burial. It was one of the hardest days I had as the CO’s wife.” The word was passed to Charlie at sea, who broke the news to the young father under his command. Ellen added, “Because of how terribly the CO of the George Washington had handled telling Charlie his brother was killed in Viet Nam, he was very compassionate with informing a crew member of a tragedy at home.” His crew knew their captain’s personal interest in each of them, and he saw an inspiring example of dedication in them.

Following his Naval service, Dr. MacVean held numerous positions in industry, including Honeywell/Hydro Products, eventually becoming Vice President and General Manager. In 1989, Dr. MacVean became the Vice President for Business

Development at Horizons Technology, a San Diego company developing and providing mission planning software for the

U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, and overseas allies.

MacVean authored an engaging autobiography, “Down

Deep,” with the help of friends John Freeman and Gresham

Bayne, available on Amazon. One SEAWOLF crewman wrote, “Great book. Felt like I was alongside the CO again.

Nice feeling. I was a nuke, so there were long hours, and very tough times. Not always fun. But as was stated throughout the book, you always busted your ass. Not because you feared

Mac, but because you never wanted to let the Old Man down.

That’s a quality that a