Captain Charles E. “Chuck” Zenter, 59, of Castine, Maine, and Key West, Florida, died October 13, 2025, in the loving care of his devoted wife and daughter. He charted his journey with bile duct cancer with a commitment to embody peace, grace, and dignity in this most challenging of life’s events.
Chuck was a native of Ellicott City, Maryland. Following high school he enlisted in the US Coast Guard, and served during Operation Desert Storm, and as a responder to the Valdez Oil Spill. He later served as a USCG Reserve marine safety officer following the completion of his degree from Maine Maritime Academy in 1996. While at the Academy, Chuck achieved the college’s highest undergraduate honor as a Scheel Scholar. During his professional career, he sailed as a navigational deck officer on commercial ships for more than 18 years, achieving the rank of Master Mariner, unlimited. He sailed with Maritime Overseas Corporation, Overseas Shipholding Group, and Liberty Maritime. Chuck earned the Merchant Mariner Expeditionary Award for his service delivering equipment during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
In 2014, Chuck achieved his lifelong career goal when he was selected as a Florida State Harbor Pilot for the Port of Key West, a position he held until his death. Following the Covid Pandemic he brought the first cruise ship back to Key West in response to a medical emergency, earning a USCG Certificate of Merit for his lifesaving contribution. Chuck held professional membership with the American Pilots’ Association and the Florida Harbor Pilots Association. Chuck also served as a part time instructor for the Maritime Pilot Institute in Covington, Louisiana. He was a member of the Rising Star Lodge #4 AF&AM, and a former volunteer at the Key West Garden Club and the Castine Volunteer Fire Department.
Chuck is survived by his wife of 29 years, Janice Berry Zenter, of Castine, Maine; his daughter, Morgan Zenter Sarvis and her husband Caleb Sarvis, of Springfield, Missouri; his parents, Carole and Maynard Zenter of Woodbine, Maryland; and his sister, Mary Ann Zenter and her daughter Sadie Zenter of Littlestown, Pennsylvania.
Jan and Morgan wish to extend their sincere appreciation to Chuck’s colleagues at the Key West Bar Pilots Association, and the medical teams at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, Community Health and Counseling, and St. Joseph Hospital both of Bangor, Maine.
Memorial donations may be made to Mariners House, 11 North Square, Boston, Massachusetts 02113. A celebration of life, to be announced, will be held in the summer of 2026.
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