Former Port of Miami Director Charles Towsley Passes

Charles A. "Chuck" Towsley, 67, of Pembroke Pines, Florida passed away on Februrary 28, 2016, after a two-year battle with prostate cancer.

Chuck was a proud alumnus of the University of Michigan and was well-known in the port community as the former director of the Port of Miami.

Chuck started his career as a port facility planner for private firm Planistics. He became manager of development at the Port of Hamilton, Ontario in 1982, and accepted a post as senior deputy port director at the Tampa Port Authority in 1991, with roles including oversight of strategic planning, bond measures and capital infrastructure; he rose to managing director.

In 1998, Chuck became the port director at the Port of Miami, the “cruise capital of the world,” a position he held until 2006. During his tenure the port carried out about $350 million in capital projects, including significant investments in cruise terminals, dredging and gantry cranes, and its container operations became the first in Florida to pass the one million TEU mark.

After leaving the Port of Miami, Chuck founded Maritime Directions Management, a port planning and operations consulting company. He also joined the firm of BEA Architects, specialists in cruise terminals, bringing with him his expertise in port planning and development.

Survivors include his wife, Colleen; son, Matthew; daughter, Sarah (Jim); grandchildren, Isaac, Ada and Ivy; brothers, Alan and Donald; sister, Kathy; and nieces, nephews and extended family.

The family will greet friends from 12:00 - 1:00 PM on Sunday, March 6, 2016, at Fred Hunter's University Drive Home, 2401 S. University Drive in Davie. A memorial service will begin at 1:00 PM.

Contributions given in memory of Chuck can be directed to the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center at http://mcancer.org/giving/.