Curtis Perry McLaughlin

Curtis (Curt) Perry McLaughlin passed away on February 27, 2026 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. He was 94 years old.

Curt was born John Fade on January 27, 1932 in Brooklyn, New York and was adopted by Wilmer and Ida Bryson McLaughlin of Ridgewood, New Jersey. He was predeceased by his parents, his sister Helen McLaughlin Stiefel, and his wife of 32 years, Barbara Nettles-Carlson. He is survived by his children Lianne McLaughlin (Larry Daughtridge), Craig McLaughlin (Christi Voenell), Gwenn McLaughlin (Douglas Feltman), and Tritia McLaughlin (Paul van Son); his grandchildren Alexis Daughtridge, Celia Daughtridge, Gregory Feltman (Lexie Conduff Feltman), Laura Feltman (Trevor Dunlap), and Manya Janowitz; his great-grandchildren Jack and Elizabeth Feltman; Barbara's family; and his very special friend, Sue Smith.

Curt graduated from Wesleyan University (BA) and Harvard Business School (MBA, DBA). He joined the Harvard Business School Faculty in 1965. He was also Visiting Lecturer at Harvard School of Public Health.

In 1968, Curt joined the UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School Faculty. Additional appointments followed in the School of Public Health, the Carolina Population Center, and the Sheps Center of Health Services Research. He retired from the university in 1997.

At the UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School, Curt served as Operations Management and Quantitative Methods head and directed the Doctoral Program and healthcare-oriented executive programs. He was a visiting professor at Helsinki University; Indian Institute of Health Education and Administration; London Business School; and the University of Tennessee.

Curt served on the boards of the Torch Club of Durham-Chapel Hill; Chrysalis Foundation for Mental Health; Choral Society of Durham; Next Step Housing; Hospice of North Carolina; New England Hemophilia Society; and Carolina Meadows. He also chaired the Medical Care Advisory Committee, Division of Medical Assistance, North Carolina Department of Human Services.

No service will be held in accordance with Curt's wishes.  A memorial gathering will be held at 10:00 a.m., Sunday, April 19, 2026 at the Carol Woods Assembly Hall, 750 Weaver Dairy Road in Chapel Hill.  Gifts in remembrance of him may be made to Next Step Housing and PORCH Chapel Hill-Carrboro.

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