SPRUCE PINE, N.C.— Charles Denton (Denny) Fernald, associate professor of psychology, emeritus, at UNC Charlotte died Oct. 5, 2021 at the age of 77. He was born on Nov. 9, 1943 to Loren Sumner Fernald and Dorothy Emery Fernald in Melrose, Massachusetts. Denny was christened by sprinkling at the Trinity Episcopal Church, Melrose, MA, the start of his strong spiritual journey and living out his values.
Denny earned a B.S. from University of Massachusetts- Amherst, the first in the family with a college degree. He earned a Ph.D. in Psychology at Indiana University in 1970. While at Indiana University, Denny met Sue Sampen, they married, had 2 daughters (Beth & Lori), and settled in Charlotte.
Denny taught at UNC Charlotte for 42 years; he had fellowships at the University of Maryland and UNC Chapel Hill. He loved teaching and gave tirelessly to his students, especially those who were struggling. At UNC Charlotte Denny developed over 25 different courses, many innovative that emphasized off campus internships, hands-on learning, writing instruction, multi-culturalism, academic integrity, and community service.
Denny found his spiritual home at Charlotte Friends Meeting (Quakers). He became a leader within the University, the Quaker Meeting, and the broader community, specifically in the area of children and families, developmental disabilities, and caregiving. In 1989 Denny lost Sue, after her six-year battle with brain cancer.
After years of deep grief, Denny fell in love with and, in 1999, married Jo Ann Anderson Weinstein. This was for Denny a whole new life that he could not have imagined earlier. They prioritized blending their family, Jo Ann’s son, Joshua, and daughter, Rebekah with Denny’s daughters Beth and Lori. To help blend the family, Denny created a cookbook to share his cooking skills and love of good food. And, once grandchildren arrived, Denny was grandpa extraordinaire. Denny loved playing with his grandchildren. His silliness was matched by his ability to listen intently and love deeply, leaving behind memories of the hair stylist, creating signs in the woods, finding critters, goofy golf and the family frog campfire song.
Throughout Denny’s life he served his community, strongly advocating for those cast-off or in need. Denny received many honors and awards. After a semester in a teaching exchange at the University of Stirling, Scotland, he developed a life-changing study abroad program taking UNC Charlotte students to live for a month in Scotland, work at a center for disabled adults, and travel around Britain. Denny initiated and advocated for many projects that worked with individuals and organizational boards on issues of incarceration, low income, disabilities, immigration, racial justice, peace, conflict resolution, and homelessness. For 10 years he provided grief counseling and advising at Urban Ministry Center. Denny maintained a strong spiritual connection to Iona, Scotland for more than 25 years, as an intercessor for those in need of healing.
In order to escape the summer heat in Charlotte, Denny and Jo Ann began exploring the NC mountains and soon found Celo Friends Meeting. They built a house in Spruce Pine in order to be close to the community and once they retired, they moved to the mountains full time.
In the mountains, Denny threw his energy into Celo Friends Meeting, providing a variety of leadership roles and helping develop Charity House Mission, which supports local people who are homeless and food insecure.
Denny is survived by his wife of 22 years, Jo Ann; children Beth (& Willy) Hoos, Lori Khamala (& Sean Chen), Rebekah Chow, Joshua (& Yvonne) Weinstein; his grandchildren, Colin, Camden, Aurora, Caroline, Lynnsey, Emery, Imani, Matilda, Tallulah; his sisters Linda Mayo, Susan O’Brien, sister-in-law Gale Rivera (& Frank), many beloved nieces and nephews and Barley. Loved by family and friends throughout the world, he will be remembered as a quiet and serious, but also quirky, lovable, funny, truth-speaking, prone to dramatic outbursts, kind-hearted, and a devoted husband, father, brother, grandfather, and friend.
The family appreciates the wonderful caring provided during his last year by Hospice of the Blue Ridge.
Memorial donations may be made to: UNC Charlotte, Dr. Denny and Jo Ann Fernald Disability Scholarship Fund, Attn.: Judy Lekowski, Office of University Advancement, 9201 University City Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28223.