Charles W. “Chuck” Achong was born in Jersey City, New Jersey, to the late Charles William Sr. and Rita Achong, on October 2, 1950, weighing 10.4 pounds at birth! He and his only sibling, Dorothy, attended Sacred Heart Elementary School and graduated from Snyder High School. Charles went right to work after graduation as a printer for a local newspaper, The Hudson Dispatch, and as a ski instructor in upstate New York. In 1971, Chuck was drafted into the Army during the Vietnam War. After his time in the military, Charles attended Jersey City State College, where he majored in criminal justice and fire safety.

In 1979, Chuck joined the Jersey City Fire Department, where he proudly served his community for over 30 years. Over his long, prestigious career, Charles received numerous awards such as a Group Effort Medical Award and Valor Awards. On September 11th, after the collapse of the Twin Towers left the site devastated, Charles wasted no time making his way to Ground Zero to help with the rescue, recovery, and clean-up efforts. The prolonged exposure to contaminated air and toxic chemicals eventually took his life on March 29, 2018. When Charles departed this earth, it was the direct result of doing something he loved. Although taken too soon, this fact has been a source of comfort for his family and friends who continue to miss him dearly.

Captain Achong was a devoted husband to Rosemary, his wife of 40 years, a devoted father to his only child, Kristine, and a friend to many. In his spare time, Charles enjoyed golfing, skiing, cooking, and traveling the world. He took great pride in taking care of his family and was always ready and willing to help a friend. He was an active member of the Friendly Sons of the Shillelagh, Elks, VFW, and the Belmar Fishing Club, where you would be sure to find him with a cold one.

Chuck was a rock of stability for his family, and his loving and jovial spirit endures.