Pierre DuCharme

Pierre Remi DuCharme was born on May 12, 1950, in St. Paul, Minnesota, and died on Sept. 1 at his Winter Haven home after a nine-year battle with cancer. He and his wife Sharon had just celebrated 45 years of marriage on August 15, although they had been in each other’s lives for 52 years. “How Sweet It Is (to Be Loved by You)” was their song, and it personified their family life and their marriage. 

Well-known in Polk County for his photojournalism, Pierre also made his mark as a husband, father to Michelle, Papa to Madelyn, guitar afficionado, audiophile, fan of Maine Coon cats, Skinwalker Ranch and Native American mounds. Pierre was a friend and mentor to countless local musicians. 

If you’ve seen live music performed in Polk County, chances are you have seen a guitar, amplifier or audio equipment that passed through Pierre’s hands. While he did not play, Pierre favored Martin guitars and he organized “Martin Days” in great detail to show off both the instruments and the musicians. 

In the week before his death, it was not uncommon to walk in his room and find one or two friends playing guitars by his bedside. His daughter Michelle played a mandolin that was a gift from her father.

In Pierre’s 44 years at The Ledger, he documented news with a discerning eye and a mind built for storytelling. His work took him well beyond local news, ultimately covering more than 100 Space Shuttle launches, 20 Super Bowls, College Football Championship games, NBA Finals, MLB World Series, the Stanley Cup, World Cup Soccer, Olympic Soccer, NCAA Men’s Final Four, and more than 1,000 high school sporting events. 

He photographed big stories, but his eye never missed the little moments, like an Easter egg hunt or meal deliveries to senior residents. Fellow photographers said his work ethic was unparalleled. Pierre always said he wouldn’t trade being a photojournalist for any other profession. 

Pierre’s early years were spent in Winter Haven. He grew up as the son of Ernie and Lucy DuCharme and lived for a time in their home known as the Wonder House in Bartow. He attended Santa Fe High School and went to college primarily at the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg. Pierre had a gift for developing and nurturing long and meaningful friendships that spanned decades and endured distance and the challenges of everyday life. He had a knack for talking to anyone and everyone and making them feel like the center of the universe.

He was predeceased by his father, Dr. Ernest Peter DuCharme, and mother, Lucille Fitzsimons DuCharme, a well-known educator and leader in the Polk County Community. 

Pierre is survived by his wife Sharon; daughter, Michelle Remi DuCharme (Mark Kisch Jr.); granddaughter, Madelyn. 

In memory of his love of music, donations may be made to Sandy’s Music Girls at sandysmusicgirls.org

Details on a Celebration of Life will be shared later.