Charles Peter Zaloumis

Charles Zaloumis ObituaryObituary published on Legacy.com by Sweet-Olsen Family Simple Cremations & Burial Service on Mar. 16, 2026.Charles Peter Zaloumis, a former All-State football player, Air Force veteran, financial executive, entrepreneur, artist, author, and poet, passed away peacefully on March 9, 2026, at St. Elizabeth Community Hospital in Red Bluff, California, at the age of 89, surrounded by his family.Born on December 1, 1936, in New London, Connecticut, Charles was the son of Peter Charles Zaloumis and Viola Fotinellis. His parents were Greek immigrants whose traditions, values, culture, and love of life shaped him. He grew up in Newport, Rhode Island, where he was baptized in the Greek Orthodox church. Throughout his life he continued a deep love of Greek culture, including its classical music, philosophy, mythology, sculpture, and architecture.Charles was an accomplished athlete throughout his life. In his early years, he demonstrated this on the football field as a running back and was voted All-State in Rhode Island in 1955. He also played football alongside his brother Paul in High School. He went on to play one year of football at Boston College and enjoyed tennis and basketball later in life.He enlisted in the United States Air Force which shaped the resolve and diligence that guided him throughout his life. In parallel to his military service, he continued his education and graduated from the University of Nebraska. He later earned his MBA from American University in Washington, D.C.Charles began his professional career in Washington, D.C. as an agent with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), where he worked in the enforcement of federal securities laws. He enjoyed pursuing white collar criminals and this work instilled in him a passion for finance and banking.As a result of his success at the SEC, he was recruited by Travelers Insurance in Connecticut, where he became the youngest Vice President in the company's history at the time.His career eventually brought him West when he was recruited to Central Bank in Oakland, California, where he served as Senior Vice President of the bank's Trust Department.Following his time at Central Bank, Charles founded Centrecorp, which grew to become the largest pension investment company in Northern California. With offices in Walnut Creek and Oakland, Centrecorp provided pension administration and investment management services to many organizations throughout the area. As both administrator and investor, Charles guided the firm's overall strategy and was highly successful running the business.After stepping away from Centrecorp, Charles remained active as a private investor and entrepreneur. His investments spanned multiple industries including fitness centers, real estate development, water treatment solutions, and other ventures.His father always advised Charles to lead life to the fullest which guided him throughout his career. This led him to be comfortable with change no matter the magnitude. As a result, together with his partner of 36 years, Elayne Becker, Charles launched Ellenika, a premier interior design company located in Blackhawk and Walnut Creek, California. Elayne led the interior design work, while Charles created sculptures and managed the business operations, reflecting their complementary talents and shared entrepreneurial spirit. Ellenika's work was featured in multiple magazines, including Better Homes and Gardens, and on television on HGTV's Homes of San Francisco.In his later years, Charles turned increasingly to writing and reflection on his life. In 2023 he published The Myth Makers: A Greek Tale, a philosophical and autobiographical work inspired by Greek storytelling traditions. He continued working on additional writings until the end of his life.Over the course of his life, Charles lived in Nebraska, Washington, D.C., Connecticut, the East Bay of San Francisco, and Red Bluff, California.Charles was previously married to June and Sarah and is survived by his longtime partner Elayne Becker of Red Bluff, California. Despite his many and unique professional accomplishments, Charles was extremely proud of his family. He enjoyed coaching his children in sports, attending many of their competitions, and sharing their accomplishments over the years. He was the father of Dawn, Peter, Chris, and Nicole, grandfather to Nicholas, Christian, Andreas, Chelsea, Charles, Michael, Zachary, Connor, Ava, and Kelsie, and great-grandfather to Taki, Milo and Jude. Charles also was a loving father figure to Katie Bolm, Elayne's granddaughter, who held a special place in his heart.Charles is also survived by his brothers Paul and Anthony and was predeceased by his sister Irene.Those who knew Charles remember a man of courage, determination and brilliance. He also approached life with a strong sense of humor, fearlessness, and love.He will be deeply missed and fondly remembered by all who knew him.Charles will be laid to rest at the Northern California Veterans Cemetery in Igo, California, a resting place to honor his service to the United States Air Force.To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.