Charles "Dusty" W.A. Pearsall died in his sleep at home in Stuart, Florida July 25th, 2023 at the age of 75. Born on December 8th, 1947 in Port Au Prince, Haiti, Dusty was the son of David Jarvis Pearsall, an officer in the intelligence services of the United States, and the former Jean Taussig of New York City.  His family briefly lived in Barranquilla, Colombia before relocating to Newport, RI, where Dusty grew up. It was there that he first became enamored with the sea and there that Dusty and his cherished brother David competed at the Ida Lewis Yacht Club becoming accomplished and winning competitive sailors.

He attended the Rectory School in Connecticut and prepared for college at Deerfield Academy in Massachusetts before matriculating at Brown University in 1966.  During those years Dusty met many wonderful people, among them Toby and Janet Pell who would become dear lifelong friends. Subsequently, Dusty enlisted in the Navy and was stationed at fleet headquarters on the Bay of Naples, Italy. His duties there included teaching sailing to the families of the navy brass. After his stint in the service and with honorable discharge in hand, Dusty settled in Water Island, US Virgin Islands, where he managed his family's marina and opened a gold and jewelry business along the quay.  In the Virgin Islands his love of the ocean led him to many adventures.

Dusty and his "brother in spirit" Dee Wesley became record holding free divers and spear fishermen well known throughout the islands.  Also, with David, Dusty carried out several water rescues of stranded mariners and downed flyers, sometimes in treacherous conditions.  Intrepid as always, Dusty, along with his first wife Page and their dog Om, completed record-holding ocean passage from the islands to Newport in an open 23' boat.

In the 1990's Dusty moved to the mainland first to New York City and then to Stuart, FL.  Along the way, he started several businesses including publishing a professional travel and meeting guide and doing consulting work for the bio safety industry.

Beyond the details and history of his life, what defined Dusty most was his love of family and friends.  He found great happiness and contentment with Liz Dunn his loving wife of 19 years after their marriage on the beach Valentine's Day.  When he married Liz, the one non-negotiable item was his afternoon nap where, as Liz joked, he would nap on the internet. Passing away during his afternoon nap was the ultimate irony.

Travel, fine food and a glass or three of wine gave him great pleasure, but it was the people with whom he shared life that gave him most joy.  Going out on the town for a dinner party with Liz and Dusty whether it be in Spanish, English, Italian or Creole, Dusty was translator, master of ceremony, ambassador, and friend to all; the life of the party. Dusty, the embodiment of joie de vivre, lit up the lives of all around him with the warm glow of love.

Dusty treasured experiences and music- always reveling in whatever life had to offer. He would then write in florid prose about them in publications and to his friends which all cement his image as a larger-than-life personality. He considered himself a very lucky man and his friends were all very fortunate to have had him in their lives. His companion for the last decade, Ollie, his lovable four-legged friend, will forever miss his breakfast at 4am and limitless snacks.

Predeceased by his mother, father and beloved brother he is survived by his wife Liz, daughter Wendy Hirdler, and her mother Merilynn Bourne, grandchildren Wesley and Max, former wife Page and sister Pam.

To honor Dusty's wishes, we will have a celebration of life in early-Fall 2023. We ask two favors from family and friends to ensure this momentous occasion is one to never be forgotten. Please email Dusty24Karat@gmail.com with your contact information so we are sure to get the details to you as they become available. Next, please upload cherished videos and pictures with Dusty via the link below to be included at the celebration of life. Please note, the cutoff for inclusion will be two weeks prior to event date so submit today!

https://bit.ly/dustymemories

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to one the below local nonprofits which focus on two of Dusty's passions – overcoming hunger (House of Hope), and our waterways and animal habitats (Florida Oceanographic Society). Please note donation is in honor of Dusty Pearsall.

Florida Oceanographic Society
https://www.floridaocean.org/donate-0

Gifts are also accepted by check, & mailed to:

Florida Oceanographic Society
890 NE Ocean Blvd.
Stuart, FL 34996

House of Hope https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=E348392&id=1

Gifts are also accepted by check, & mailed to:

House of Hope, Inc.
2484 SE Bonita Street
Stuart, FL 34997

Please feel free to share a remembrance or message of condolence with the family through this online guestbook.