Charles Edward Carlson Jr., a resident of Newtonville, N.Y. and Edgartown, died on Jan. 30 at his home in New York with his wife of 67 years, Eva Steinbach Carlson, at his side. He was 89.

He was born in Manhattan on Nov. 27, 1932 and grew up in the Bronx. He attended the City College of New York as an ROTC student and was awarded a bachelor of science in civil engineering in 1954. He served in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for two years and the U.S. Army Reserves, where he attained the rank of captain.

He began his career as an engineer with the state of Wisconsin in 1956. He was one of the first engineers to use computers in the design of bridges. In 1961, he and his family moved to New Jersey where he worked at the home builder Levitt & Sons and was responsible for the company’s data processing.

In 1962, Charles embarked on an extensive career as a civil servant for the state of New York, starting as director of data processing for the department of public works. He became a regional director of transportation and eventually deputy commissioner of transportation for the state. He was appointed chairman of transportation and an administrator of the 1980 Olympic Games in Lake Placid by the governor. Throughout his career, he promoted and supported the development of public work projects and left behind a legacy of bike paths, trails and public use spaces throughout New York state and the capital district.

Upon his retirement from the department of transportation in 1988, Charles joined Parsons Brinckerhoff, Inc. as senior vice president. He served as deputy manager of the Big Dig in Boston. In 1995 he became managing director of Merz and McLellan, an electrical engineering company based in the United Kingdom. He retired in 1998.

He was a lifetime member of the International Torch Clubs and served as president for two years. He was on the board of the Albany Institute of History and Art and served as a member of many community organizations.

Charles created a second home and lifelong memories for his family on Martha’s Vineyard. He and Eva first came to the Island with their family in 1964, renting a house on Ocean Park. In 1972, he built a home in Ocean Heights where summer vacations with family and friends would be remembered and cherished for generations. He was actively involved with the Friends of Sengekontacket and passionate about protecting the environmental health and ecosystem of his beloved Sengie where he spent many happy years sailing, fishing for striped bass, harvesting quahaugs and kayaking with his wife and family. Most summer mornings and afternoons Charles and Eva could be found at State Beach swimming and reading voraciously.

He is survived by his wife Eva; children Nancy and her husband Stephen, and Paul Carlson and his wife Elizabeth; and grandchildren Mae Carlson, Jack Fisher and his wife Julia, Halley, Samuel, and Caroline Fisher. He was predeceased by his eldest son, Charles Edward Carlson 3rd. He will be interred at the New Westside Cemetery in Edgartown.

A celebration of life will be held with his Island friends and family this summer at a time to be announced.

Donations can be made to the Amyloidosis Foundation at amyloidosis.org.