BALTIMORE (Tribune Information Service) — Charles C. “Cuppy” Fenwick, who directed the Maryland Hunt Cup, owned car dealerships and was a adorned World Conflict II veteran, died Dec. 16 at Sinai Hospital of problems from a fall he suffered at his house in Glyndon. He was 96.
Born and raised within the Glyndon space of Baltimore County, Mr. Fenwick was the youngest of six kids. His dad and mom had been G. Bernard Fenwick, a gentleman farmer, and his spouse, Margaret G. Fenwick, a homemaker who was the granddaughter of Arunah S. Abell, founding father of The Baltimore Solar.
A 1942 graduate of the Gilman Faculty, Mr. Fenwick attended Princeton College for a 12 months earlier than he enlisted within the Military and served within the infantry throughout World Conflict II.
“I remembered him arriving at Gilman in a Mannequin-T Ford. We youthful college students had been each envious and impressed. No one had automobiles in these days,” stated a good friend, Truman Semans. “He was an excellent Maryland gentleman.”
After touchdown at Normandy in September 1944, he fought in France and Belgium. He was a member of the Anti-Tank Firm, 407th Infantry and had been educated in using explosives.
“He had a job within the Battle of the Bulge and laid strategic mines in the course of the Christmas Eve combating,” stated his son, Peter R. Fenwick of Reisterstown. “He earned a Bronze Star, however like many in his era, he didn’t speak about this.”
After leaving the navy, Mr. Fenwick married Rosalie Bruce they usually had 4 sons. The wedding resulted in divorce. In 1963 he married Elizabeth White, and collectively that they had one son.
Mr. Fenwick started his skilled profession as a clerk with america Strains within the Port of Baltimore. He later co-founded Fenwick, Michaels and Downes, the predecessor of Riggs, Counselman, Michaels & Downes, now RCM&D, an insurance coverage agency.
He was additionally affiliated with Robert Garrett and Sons and labored on its merger with Alex. Brown and Sons.
“He was a pointy businessman and an intensive gentleman,” stated Jack Symington “Jay” Griswold, a good friend and a enterprise affiliate. “He labored by way of private relationships and was superb at them.”
His son stated that in 1962 Mr. Fenwick acquired the rights to promote Volkswagen automobiles in Maryland and opened his first dealership, Towson Valley Motors.
“He was conscious of the Volkswagen product and requested to be a distributor, however due to his lack of expertise, he was made a supplier,” stated his son. “He opened in a little bit rented constructing behind Hutzler’s Towson and offered Beetles in the one coloration out there to him — black. He had no area for a list and parked the unsold autos at his farm.”
Mr. Fenwick’s dealership shortly expanded to incorporate Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Subaru and Porsche. He outgrew a number of places and moved a number of occasions earlier than establishing the enterprise on York Highway in Hunt Valley with the identify Valley Motors.
As well as, Mr. Fenwick grew to become a accomplice with William Kidd Sr. to open Invoice Kidd’s Toyota/Volvo in Cockeysville.
Alvin “Buzzy” Krongard, a good friend, stated: “Cuppy was interested in all the pieces and had an intensive data of worldwide or nationwide politics — or regardless of the scorching subject was. He was only a stalwart. I appeared ahead to being with him.”
His son stated Mr. Fenwick spent all of his life on the farm the place he grew up. He cultivated a love of the outside, together with chook looking and driving horses.
His son stated Mr. Fenwick, not like a few of his kin, was not a steeplechase jockey himself.
“My father served because the director of the Maryland Hunt Cup for greater than 30 of the race’s 125-year historical past,” his son stated.
The Maryland Hunt Cup steeplechase race was run on the farm adjoining to his house and the close by Inexperienced Spring Valley Hounds, a membership the place he was a member.
“Mr. Fenwick was the patriarch of one of many nation’s best-known steeplechase households, and I doubt if he ever missed a Maryland Hunt Cup all through his whole 96-year-old life,” stated Ross Peddicord, govt director of the Maryland Horse Business Board and former Solar and Night Solar horse racing reporter.
Mr. Peddicord additionally stated: “The identify Fenwick is synonymous with horses in Maryland and for good motive. They’ve received nearly each timber race in America in addition to the English Grand Nationwide. And so they carry on coming, era after era. Tommy Fenwick is the Technology Z model, and he’s successful races, too.”
In his later years, Mr. Fenwick spent most afternoons climbing by way of the woods round his farm accompanied by his spouse and their canine.
J. Dorsey Brown, a good friend, stated: “Cuppy was an sincere and honest particular person, which is the explanation he had a lot success in enterprise. He cherished horses and thoroughbreds and birding — all the pieces from eagles to wrens.”
Mr. Fenwick additionally served on the board of the previous Western Maryland School, now McDaniel School, for a few years. He was a lifetime member of Sacred Coronary heart Church in Glyndon.
Along with his son, survivors embody his spouse of 57 years, Elizabeth W. Fenwick; 4 different sons, Charles C. Fenwick Jr. of Butler, H. Bruce Fenwick of Reisterstown, Edwin Abell Fenwick of Walden, Colorado, and John G. Fenwick of Brunswick, Maine; a sister, Frances F. Edelen of Timonium; 9 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
Providers and interment shall be non-public.
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