Charles Macli, 80, passed away on July 30, 2026, leaving behind a lifetime of laughter, love and unforgettable memories.
Born in NYC to Salvatore and Rachel Macli, Charlie was the beloved husband of Jean Macli, with whom he shared a lifetime of love and companionship.
He was the proud father to Noelle Semenza (DJ Semenza) and Christopher Macli (Donna Macli), and an adoring grandfather (“Poppy”) to Tyler, Callie, Jackson, William and Rose, each of whom brought him endless pride and joy. He is also survived by his loving sister, Teresa LeCrann.
If you knew Charlie, you knew there was never a dull moment. He had a joke for every occasion and loved to be the life of the party. He made it his mission to leave people smiling and feeling better about themselves. If you were down, Charlie lifted you up with laughter.
His sense of humor was legendary. His self-deprecation reminded everyone that if you can’t laugh at yourself, then you’re taking life too seriously. He would often tell people much younger than him that he “wants to be like them when he grows up.” If Charlie was laughing, everyone else usually was too.
Charlie also had a habit of sending random text messages to family and friends that simply read, “Do you miss me?” They would inevitably make people laugh, roll their eyes and text him back, exactly the reaction he was hoping for.
Names, however, were never Charlie's strong suit. Morgan Wallen somehow became “Morgan Stanley”, Hernam Scalabucci, a very distant cousin to Versace, was his designer of choice. And many other names met the same fate. Correcting him was pointless, he’d just smile and keep going. Those little mix-ups became some of the family's favorite stories. He loved to sing wherever he went, though knowing the actual lyrics was optional. If he didn’t know the words, he’d happily invent his own. Sometimes the songs were hysterical, sometimes they were complete nonsense, but they were unmistakably Charlie.
A true creature of habit, Charlie found joy in the familiar. He had his favorite restaurants, his favorite meals, and his routines, and he saw no reason to change them. He cherished dinners with friends and family. The food was good, but the laughter was loud and indelible memories were made.
As a father, Charlie did more than just make Noelle and Chris laugh. He taught them to be brave and daring in the face of challenges. He taught them that every human being is worthy of respect. It’s true that he also believed no joke was too inappropriate to tell, even in public; but the lesson he conveyed with his sense of humor was that everyone could use a little more joy in their lives.
Charlies’ greatest gift was his ability to make everyone feel like family. He never met a stranger, only a friend he hadn’t gotten to know yet. Whether you walked through his front door, sat next to him at a restaurant, or crossed paths with him on the street, you were greeted with a warm smile, a handshake, a joke, and genuine kindness. His home was always open, his table always had room for one more, and his heart never seemed to limit how much it could give.
Charlie had a remarkable way of making people feel seen, welcomed, and important. He gave freely of his time, his generosity, and his laughter, asking for nothing in return. To know him was to know what unconditional kindness looked like and countless lives are better because they had the privilege of being loved by him. The next time you hear someone singing a song, and all of the words are wrong, think of Charlie and smile. He would be proud to know that he brought you joy.
Charlie leaves behind memories, jokes, made up song lyrics, hilarious text messages with many emoji's and a lifetime of laughter. If Charlie could leave us with one final message, it would surely be “Better to laugh than cry.”
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Charlie’s name to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.
