Charles Hanna Kafoure

Charles Hanna Kafoure, affectionately known as Charlie, was born on January 15, 1948, in Indianapolis, Indiana, and peacefully passed away on May 4, 2025.

Charlie lit up every room he entered. Enthusiastic about others, warm-hearted, and compassionate, he had a signature smile that captured hearts—and he never met a stranger. He led with kindness, treated everyone like a friend, and left people feeling lighter for having crossed his path.

Charlie’s story began with the courage of his grandparents. His mother's side immigrated from Syria and his father’s from Lebanon in the early 1900s. Both families moved around before making their way to Indianapolis, where Charlie’s parents married after his father returned home from World War II. He grew up surrounded by a large, tight-knit family—close aunts, uncles, and cousins—whose deep bonds and laughter shaped his joyful approach to life. He loved playing baseball, running with cousins, and spending time with his spirited group of childhood friends.

A proud graduate of Lawrence Central High School (Class of 1965), Charlie went on to earn a degree in Mathematics from Butler University, followed by a master’s degree from Purdue University. (The math genes skipped a generation, but he was delighted to see them land with his granddaughters.)

Charlie was an early innovator in the tech industry and followed his curiosity through entrepreneurial ventures before retiring from Duke University, where he worked as an Analyst in the Office for Institutional Equity. His professional life reflected his values: fairness, opportunity, and clarity.

Charlie loved people and entertaining. He loved to cook—an inherited gift from his mother—and even penned a salad-based cookbook full of his personal specialties. He relished card games with his family and friends, that gene didn’t miss any generations. He was a devoted fan of rock and roll (the Beatles being number 1) and soul (Aretha Franklin tops in that category), and was an undiscriminating sports fanatic following the Indiana Pacers, and the Colts most closely. His laugh was loud, his opinions clear, and his joy contagious.

Charlie’s proudest role was that of father and grandfather. He poured his heart into every stage of his children's lives—volunteering at preschool back when it wasn’t common for dads, coaching softball, cheering at piano recitals and theater performances. He often said the best year of his life was when he moved his family to London in the early 1990s, spending that year traveling across Europe and creating lasting memories together. His joy only deepened with the arrival of his twin granddaughters, Miri and Madi, who became the center of his world. Their quarterly bookstore trips instilling his love for reading and on-demand ice cream outings instilling his love for sweets in them were both highlights.

Charlie was deeply committed to justice and equality. He co-founded Indiana Citizens to Abolish Capital Punishment with his dear friend Emily and remained a tireless advocate for human rights. He was a generous supporter of other causes close to his heart: adult literacy, racial and social equity, and the rights of the underrepresented. He believed in doing the right thing—and then actually doing it.

Charlie is preceded in death by his parents, Edward and Gloria Kafoure, and his brother-in-law Jeff Klivansky. He is survived by his daughter Christina (Chris) and her daughters Miri and Madi, his son David (Rodrigo), his sister Denise Klivansky (Jeff), nephew Jake (Nikki), niece Jordan (Matt), and his former wife and forever co-parent, Jamise, with whom he remained very close.

Charlie’s wishes were clear—no formal ceremony, just a joyful celebration of life coming this summer. To honor his legacy, volunteer in your community or support one of the causes he held dear.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Charlie’s name to: Planned Parenthood or The Innocence Project