Peter C.P. Char, Harris adviser, dead at 59

By Treena Shapiro
Advertiser Staff Writer

Peter C.P. Char, a prominent medical malpractice attorney and chief campaign fund raiser for Mayor Jeremy Harris, died Sunday after a brief illness. He was 59.

Peter Char was a close friend to Mayor Jeremy Harris, who called Char the older brother he never had. Advertiser library photo

He was a close friend to Harris, who called Char the older brother he never had.

"He was simply a good man. He was a rock, a pillar of integrity, a man of honor, just an amazing guy," Harris said yesterday after helping Char's family make funeral arrangements.

"He lived a life dedicated to his family and his community, and he shared his insight and his quiet wisdom with me. I will be forever grateful for that priceless gift."

Harris and his wife, Ramona, were at Char's bedside when he died.

In addition to being chief money raiser for Harris' aborted gubernatorial campaign, Char was deputy treasurer of Harris' 2000 mayoral re-election campaign and headed two nonprofit groups: Friends of the City and County of Honolulu and the Environmental Foundation, which raised money for city environmental conferences.

In November, Char was called to testify before a grand jury investigating Harris' campaign finances and the awarding of city contracts, but he was not accused of any wrongdoing.

Born and raised in Hawai'i, Char graduated from Punahou in 1961, received an undergraduate degree in history from Yale University, and a law degree from Northwestern University. After graduation, he worked as a law clerk in the Supreme Court of Hawai'i. He was formerly a partner at Cades, Schutte, Fleming & Wright and an instructor at the University of Hawai'i's William S. Richardson School of Law.

Char's law partner, Roland O.F. Thom, said of his lifelong friend: "He possessed judgelike skills that he combined with unquestionable integrity in his work and, for that matter, in all his endeavors."

Dan Chun, pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Honolulu, said, "So many of his colleagues admired him and felt he was one of the most honest people they knew."

Char is survived by wife Lynette, daughter Janelle, son Greg, brother David and sisters Judith Flagg and Janice Chung.

Services have been tentatively set at First Presbyterian Church with visitation from 4:30 p.m. and services at 6:30 p.m. Friday.

Char was a member of the advisory board of the Char Asian-Pacific Study Room at Kapi'olani Community College, which was founded through an endowment fund established by his parents. He served on the board of directors and was former president of the Legal Aid Society of Hawai'i.

The Peter C.P. Char Memorial Fund is being established at First Hawaiian Bank.