In Remembrance:

Charles R. Tuffley

1938 – 2018

Obituary for Charles Renfrew Tuffley

Charles “Chuck” Tuffley was born to Charles and Saima (Leinonen) Tuffley on August 17, 1938, in Minneapolis, MN. After the family moved to Michigan, he resided in Grosse Pointe Farms, Detroit and East Detroit, where he attended Southeastern High School. Upon graduation, he attended Michigan State University, after which he received his law degree from Wayne State University.

Chuck was a law clerk at the Detroit firm of Head and Denenberg, where he was hired as an attorney upon passing the bar exam. He and Julius Denenberg founded the Denenberg, Tuffley, and Thorpe law firm in 1964. Chuck had a distinguished 54-year career as a property insurance coverage and subrogation attorney at Denenberg Tuffley, PLLC. Along the way, Chuck was a mentor and teacher to countless attorneys. He was admired and respected by his peers and judges in the Federal and state courts throughout the country.

He enjoyed playing golf and tennis and remained a die-hard fan of Michigan State football and basketball throughout his life. He loved visiting Palm Springs, California, to visit his “cousins-in-law,” Gene Esshaki and Cindy Merry. A significant highlight of one of those visits was scoring a hole-in-one on the 15th hole at the Arnold Palmer course at PGA West.

He joined St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in 2005 and served on its vestry for three years. He also was the church’s treasurer for several years. He was deeply devoted to the church and, despite having no formal musical training, was able to sing every hymn, in tune and loudly, on Sunday mornings. He deeply loved his church family.

He is survived by his wife of 27 years, Ann Elizabeth Merry; Joan Marie Tuffley, mother of his two beautiful daughters, Jessica Tuffley and Jennifer (Ben) Paddock; brother David (Elizabeth) Tuffley; sister Janet (Carlos) Ortiz; and granddaughters Blair and Sally Paddock.

Charles R. Tuffley

Partner – Michigan Office

Education: Michigan State University (B.A., 1960); Wayne State University (LL.B., 1964).

Admitted: 1965, Michigan and U.S. District Court, Eastern and Western Districts of Michigan; United States Court of Appeals; United States District Court – Indiana.

Bar Association Memberships: State Bar of Michigan.

Expressions

He will always be remembered in our hearts and mind as a cheery, up-lifting attorney who loved the practice more than anything. His life and dedication to the practice of law shall remain an inspiration for me and the members of our law firm.

Richard A. Ing, Esq.
Ogawa, Lau, Nakamura & Jew
Honolulu, Hawaii

I am sorry learn of Chuck’s passing. I admired him throughout the Smithfield litigation. I thought to myself many times that I hoped I could conduct myself as a lawyer as Chuck did. The fact that he contended with a hearing deficit made his effort as trial counsel even more worthy of note.

I would like his family to know that lawyers against whom he litigated thought much of his character and capability.

J. Steven Jarreau
Civil Division / FTCA

Having been blessed with the opportunity to have known Chuck as a clerk, an employee, partner and colleague I treasure most the fact he was a dear friend. Chuck was an approachable superstar, respected by both sides of the property insurance equation as well as the bench.

His accomplishments and contributions to the fields of subrogation and first-party property insurance claims involving fires, explosions and the affirmative defenses of arson/fraud are well known all over the world. Having practiced law for more than 50 years the number of people, and clients, who benefited from Chuck’s legal skills, his unique wit, and his willingness to be a mentor is simply amazing.

Rest in peace, my friend,

Phillip K. Yeager
Yeager, Davison & Day, P.C.
Ada, MI

From DT Teammates

I had a pleasure of working with Chuck on the Smithfield Foods matter for several years and through many different stages of the litigation. I learned a lot from Chuck during this case, but the most valuable lesson learned was how to analyze and present complex damages at trial. The wealth of knowledge on damages that Chuck has developed during his career is irreplaceable.

Alyssa J. EndelmanPartner

Chuck Tuffley is my most significant role model in how law should be practiced. For over 50 years, Chuck has led by example rather than hands-off instruction. Through his intelligence, sense of humor, deep knowledge of the law and a commitment to mentoring, he sets the bar in our office for what a lawyer should strive to be. The opportunity to have worked with him for the last 17 years is one of the most valuable gifts of my legal career.

Melinda A. DavisPartner

On The Personal Side

Birth City:

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Family:

Married with two children and two grandchildren.

Interests:

Golf, indoor and outdoor exercise, and reading.

You’d Never Guess:

My first foreign claim was the loss of an India satellite in space which included a trip to the India Space Center in Bangladesh, India.

Thank You Chuck…

Your legacy lives on. May you rest in peace.

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Charles R. Tuffley

Obituary for Charles Renfrew Tuffley

Charles R. Tuffley

Expressions

From DT Teammates

On The Personal Side

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Family:

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You’d Never Guess:

Thank You Chuck…

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