By Alice T. Carter

Published: Thursday, December 27, 2012, 12:01 a.m.
Updated: Wednesday, January 9, 2013

When Charles D. Horne and his wife celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary this year, she asked whether he had any regrets.

“He said, ‘Only one: that you didn't marry a rich man,' ” recalled Jean Horne, the Tribune-Review's former social columnist.

“Oh, but I did,” she told him. “I married a man rich in love, laughter and life. That's what matters to me.”

Charles “Charlie” Horne of Shadyside died of cancer at home on Monday, Dec. 24, 2012. He was 83.

“He was always a gentleman in everything he did — in the manner in which he shook your hand, smiled, or did business with you,” said Catherine Loevner, who with her husband, Mark, has been friends with the Hornes for nearly 30 years. “... He was a man of the world but he had the common touch. He always had a way of making everyone feel comfortable.”

Born July 20, 1929, Mr. Horne was the son of Catherine and John Horne and the youngest of four siblings.

He played football at Central Catholic High School, where in 1947 he was named All-Star Center on the All-City Football Team. He played the lead in his senior class play, “Three Men on a Horse,” and starring roles in several all-female Catholic school plays.

He attended the University of Kentucky on a scholarship until the Korean War interrupted his studies. He served in the Army as first sergeant, 28th Division Artillery. He later earned a bachelor of arts degree in finance from Duquesne University and completed graduate studies at Dartmouth College and Columbia University.

In 1954, Mr. Horne accepted a job as a finance trainee with U.S. Steel. Over the next 30 years, he held a succession of positions, including a 14-year assignment at its financial headquarters in New York as director of international finance.

In 1980, he became a corporate vice president and president of U.S. Steel's real estate division in Pittsburgh, where he supervised the planning and construction for what became the world headquarters for Bank of New York Mellon on Grant Street, Downtown.

After he retired from U.S. Steel, Allegheny International Realty Development Corp. hired him as president. He supervised construction of what is now EQT's national headquarters, Downtown.

Mr. Horne generously shared his business expertise with nonprofit organizations. He was an emeritus member of the board of directors of Duquesne University, president of its Century Club for outstanding alumni and chaired its development and construction committee that built the A.J. Palumbo Center.

He served for 30 years as chief financial officer of the board of directors of the Pittsburgh Blind Association (now Blind and Vision Rehabilitation Services of Pittsburgh).

“I consider him my big brother. He mentored me,” said Dennis Huber who served as executive director for the Blind Association. “He was a hard worker, but no one knew it because he had such a light-hearted, humorous appearance. But you knew underneath it, he was on top of everything,” Huber said.

Mr. Horne served for 15 years on Central Catholic High School's advisory board and for eight years on its board as chairman of the finance committee.

Mr. Horne was a longtime member of the Duquesne Club and Longue Vue Country Club.

In addition to his wife, Mr. Horne is survived by his children, Kate Horne of Dallas, Texas, David Horne of Fairhaven, Mass., and Jack Horne of Naperville, Ill.; stepson Josh Estner of Pittsburgh; grandchildren Julianne, Jennifer and Jack Horne Jr.; step-granddaughter Jessica Givens; step-great-granddaughter, Anna Givens; and 16 nephews and nieces.

Friends will be welcomed from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at McCabe Bros. Inc. Funeral Home, 6214 Walnut St., Shadyside. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday in St. Paul Cathedral, Oakland. Burial in the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies is private.

In lieu of flowers, friends are asked to consider Central Catholic High School Scholarship Fund, 4720 Fifth Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15213.

Alice T. Carter is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. She can be reached at 412-320-7808 or acarter@tribweb.com.

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