Charles C. "Chaz" Southard

Charles C. “Chaz” Southard, 45, passed away on April 9, 2025 in the Kaplan Family Hospice House.

Born in Melrose on June 19, 1979, he was the son of Chuck Southard and the late Julie A. (Cause) Southard and brother of the late Corey Southard.
Courageous, caring, a lover of friends, family and life, gentle, funny, cool, well read, highly intelligent, respectful, insightful, gifted artist, philosopher, a student of soul reaching music, successful web designer, well-traveled, talented skier, surfer and mountain biker, irreplaceable son, brother and friend to all who knew him.

Chaz was a leading political advocate for the passage of The Christopher Reeve Paralysis Act. He worked tirelessly traveling to D.C numerous times meeting with senators and congressmen until the CRPA was passed. He created, designed and maintained the founding web sites for both Massachusetts Walks Again and the national advocacy group, Unite 2 Fight Paralysis. He never accepted the limitations of the injury and spent his time with us making the world more beautiful.

His celebration of life will be held privately. In lieu of flowers expressions of sympathy may be made in his name to the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation at www.christopherreeve.org or the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network at https://pancan.org.