Mr. Charles Victor “Chuck” Traeger of Yulan, NY passed away on Wednesday, November 9, 2016 at Bon Secours Community Hospital, Port Jervis, New York. The son of the late Dr. Cornelius and Janet (Reisner) Traeger, he was born on December 17, 1925 in Manhattan, New York. He was 90 years old.

Chuck was a successful bass player in New York City, playing in mainstream jazz ensembles with such greats as Louie Armstrong and Sidney Bechet. He made his first record in 1945 and continued to record for another 10 years. Additionally, he graduated with a BS in civil engineering from the Columbia School of Engineering in 1959. Traeger opened up his first stringed instrument repair shop in 1969 as a luthier specializing in the acoustic bass violin. Chuck was well known for being able to obtain the best tone and sound out of the bass instrument. He retired from playing the bass at age 70. Putting to pen and ink his unique abilities, he published two books detailing the fine subtleties of the sound of the bass instrument. Chuck also, being very civic minded, served on the Town of Highland, New York’s Planning Board and Board of Assessment review for over 20 years.

Chuck was predeceased by his wife June (Savage) Traeger who passed on October 6, 2016. Survivors include two very dear friends and business partners of Chuck, Mr. William Merchant and Mr. Robert Kopec.

Funeral services are private.

Funeral arrangements are by the Gray-Parker Funeral Home, 100 E. Main St., Port Jervis, NY 12771. For additional information or to send a condolence note to the family, please visit www.grayparkerfuneralhome.com, or call 845/856-5191.

[Chuck Treager and his wife June for many years wrote a food column, “Things They Don’t Tell You in the Cookbook,” for The River Reporter.]