Charles Stephen Edge Jr. Charles Stephen Edge Jr, Age 48, of Minneapolis, MN passed away April 20, 2024 of a cerebral aneurysm. Born July 10, 1975 in Atlanta, Georgia to Stephen and Cathy Edge. Charles grew up in Dahlonega where he attended Lumpkin County High School and the University of Georgia in Athens, where he graduated in 1997 with a degree in Sociology and Computer Science and was a member of the Phi Kappa Theta fraternity. Charles was a true polymath and was a computer scientist, author, podcaster, musician and artist, making impacts wherever he bent his considerable talents. He was also a devoted son, brother, friend and, most importantly, father to his two children Kace and Violet. Anyone who met Charles knew that these two amazing humans were the center of his world. Charles’ professional accomplishments and influence were felt around the world. He spent 15 years as the Chief Technology officer of 318 Inc. in Santa Monica and 5 years at Jamf, in Minneapolis. At the time of his death, he was the Chief Technology Officer of Bootstrappers.mn developing a new security product called Secret Chest. He was also the author of over 20 books, including the yet to be published four volume History of Computers. Charles was known throughout the computing and Apple SysAdmin community for selflessly sharing his time and expertise with friends around the world. He maintained three podcasts, including the MacAdmins Podcast and The History of Computing, and over the years spoke at many conferences including Defcon, Blackhat and MacSysAdmin. Colleagues universally recognize his generosity, good humor and incredible intellectual capacity in helping others and solving problems. Quickly writing an app, a script, or bit of code or building a website or database to solve a problem or to satisfy his own curiosity could happen at any time and you tried not to be too surprised by anything he would do. Charles acted ethically and generously with his knowledge and talents and embodied the ideal that with great power comes great responsibility. Charles leaves a huge hole in the hearts of all who knew him, but none more than his close friends and family. He made his home in the north but went back to Georgia to spend time in Dahlonega with his father Steve and sister Nicole regularly. His devotion to the Georgia Bulldogs never flagged. He was a supportive friend and epic tabletop gamer whose adventures will always be remembered. His most important role, however, will always be that of devoted father. He was incredibly proud of his two children and would do whatever he could to spend time with them, greeting Kace with laser rifles at home or 3-D printing a dollhouse for Violet. Charles is survived by his children Kace and Violet, father Stephen, sister Nicole Edge and many beloved extended family member and friends. Memorial gathering will be held Saturday April 27, 3-5 p.m. at Town and Country Club, 300 Mississippi River Road, Saint Paul, MN, 55104.
I will selfishly admit that I used Charles as a human google from time to time. I stopped being amazed at his ability to come up with answers to my obscure questions years ago, and just came to expect that if he didn't know off the top of his head I'd get a text message with an answer within 24 hours. Never met anyone else like him, ever.
Wonderful words Chip... I'm still in shock about this... I never worked directly with him on projects, though I did inherit his interpretation of Jamf Marketplace to 'mainstream' when he moved on to the next big idea.... BUT. Just like with you, my row was a frequent stop for him because I sat next to Bill Boulger.... And, just like you, he took the time to get to know me because of it. Was never dull when he stopped by... lol If you remember the best radio station in Twin Cities history, 93.7 'The Edge' in the 90s, their little ID drop was, "Ninety-Three point Seven. THE. EDGE." in a spacey voice... Because I am a nickname guy, Charles became 'ChEdge' to me and whenever I saw him my inner monologue was that sound bite, "THE. ChEdge."
Sean Colins
1w
In the last few weeks I had grown accustomed to chatting with him about programming stuff for the Vision Pro, and other ideas. When he asked me to be on the podcast last year I was stunned and grateful. As long as I knew Charles he always had the most amazing energy. He is one of the few people I ever met who was clearly aware of his own brilliance, and ACTIVELY worked at being humble. There was nothing false about his humility. It was purposeful. He was one of those people who made a consistent effort to be a good person. I'll miss him a lot.
Nathan Toups
1w
Devastating news. We first met through MacTech events back in the early 2010s but it had been years since we spoke to one another. Then, in October 2023, I reached out to him out of the blue regarding some recent patents he'd worked on. It turned into a two-hour Zoom call, during which we talked about everything from emerging cryptography and computer history to physics. I cherish that conversation, and I'm sad I haven't reached out again since. He was truly an exceptional person, a hacker through and through, whose curiosity, kindness, and patience were infectious and made a lasting impression on everyone he met.
Paul L. Suh
1w
A brilliant mind and gone much too soon. I’m in shock and we’ll all miss him.
Gerard Allen
1w
Beautifully written, Chip. I always smile when I think of Charles - but it's hard to smile this week. My heart and thoughts are with his family, you, and all of us who loved him.
Justin Esgar
1d
I'm deeply saddened. I'm currently listening to the episode of MacAdmins that Charles and I recorded just a few weeks ago. He mentioned, "I love to chat with you anytime." Now, reflecting on those words, I feel the weight of his loss even more. Charles was truly one of a kind—his unparalleled drive and dedication were qualities I greatly admired. Both the community and myself will profoundly feel his absence.
Wow, shocking news. I met Charles several times at MacSysAdmin in Gothenburg. I'll remember him for his warmth, his seemingly effortless sharpness of mind, and his amazing sense of humor; all of which would permeate his presentations. Heartfelt condoleances.
Apple Enthusiast | Founder of Chippewa | Jamf Certified Expert | Transforming Organizations through Innovative Mac and iOS Solutions | Always Up for a New Tech Adventure
1wCharles was a truly remarkable individual. He possessed that rare quality of being 'a cut above,' yet he never once made you feel inferior. Despite our limited interactions, every conversation, no matter how brief, left a lasting impression. He had a remarkable ability to remember even the smallest exchanges, making each interaction feel significant. His willingness to offer assistance or simply engage in conversation, even with someone like me, speaks volumes about his character and generosity. He will be sorely missed. Rest in peace, Charles.