Charles E. "Chuck" Hagerty, Former Philadelphia Area Food Broker, Passes Away At Age 85 

May 2009

Charles F. “Chuck” Hagerty, former area food broker, passed away April 19 after a long battle with congestive heart failure. He was 85. He is survived by his wife Ginny; four children Gary Hagerty (Linda), Lynn Evans (Gene), Donna Mroz (John), Lisa Boyle (James); nine grandchildren; a great grandchild; two brothers and a sister.

Hagerty, of Maple Glen, PA, was born on July 18, 1923, in Philadelphia to George and Julia Hagerty.
He graduated from North Catholic High School in 1942. Upon graduation, he joined the U.S. Navy and was stationed on the USS LST-349 and the USS LST-208 as a signalman second class petty officer. He served in the Mediterranean, Europe and China-Burma-India Theaters and was present at the invasion of Normandy. Before being discharged, he received many commendations, including the Purple Heart. He was proudly discharged from the U.S. Navy and came home to start a career that spanned many decades.

In the late 1950s, Hagerty founded a food brokerage, Hagerty Sales, Inc. As the business grew, he joined forces with another broker, Alvin Schwartz, to create Hagerty-Schwartz. Ultimately, the company became part of Advantage Sales & Marketing.

Schwartz was a member of the U.S. LST Association, Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion. He was a parishioner of St. Alphonsus Church in Maple Glen.

He contributed towards the World War II Memorial in Washington, DC, and was able to visit the completed memorial.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in his name to Abington Memorial Hospital, Congestive Heart Failure Unit, 1200 Old York Road, Abington, PA 19001 or to Alex's Lemonade Stand, 333 Lancaster Ave. 414, Wynnewood, PA 19096.