Charles Joseph Kibert Jr. was born in Scranton, PA to Mary (Mattes) and Charles Kibert. He was the eldest of six children. Charles grew up in an orphanage, Our Lady of Fatima Institute in Elmhurst, PA, from the age of 5. Only a dedicated effort by “The Three Padres” at Fatima could convince Charles, a product of the coal fields of Northeastern Pennsylvania, that there were possibilities of college and beyond for his very young life. Thankfully, they succeeded.
Charles joined the ranks of the Class of 1969 on July 1, 1965. Through four years of cadet life in Company A-4, “Chaz” was an outstanding scholar and typically on the dean’s list. By his own words, he fought the West Point system the entire time, but while there the lessons of duty and integrity were strongly embedded in his character. His blood was “a partial shade of gray.” He remained a free-thinking individual and very personable, ready for friendly discussion on any topic. He didn’t use a lot of words; he liked to quickly go to the key part of an issue. Juxtaposed with his ability to focus and succeed in academic pursuits was a strong strain of fun-loving prankster in his makeup (including mock fencing matches in the barrack’s hallway). He made the Corps Squad Fencing Team as a cow and firstie and also participated in the Russian Club (linking to his Lithuanian heritage), Newman Forum and Rocket Society, demonstrating his wide variety of interests.
Upon graduation, Charles was commissioned in the Army as a second lieutenant (Air Defense Artillery). After initial schools, he transitioned to Military Intelligence and served in the Army Security Agency, including in Vietnam, where he realized he did have the aptitude and skills for leadership when he arrived at Phu Bai during the NVA’s ’72 Easter Offensive to lead an element of the 8th Radio Research Field Station.
Charles left the Army in 1974 to find purpose and adventures that he was convinced he could not find in the peacetime Army. But his patriotism and sense of duty led him to continue serving his nation in the Army Reserve. Charles led a Reserve Special Forces unit until retiring as a colonel in 1998.
Charles’ civilian path to purpose and adventure began with continuing his studies, earning a Master of Science in Nuclear Engineering from Carnegie-Mellon University. He worked with the Bettis Nuclear Power Laboratory, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and Sziland Associates as a reactor engineer and manager.
But Charles didn’t find the “sweet spot” outlet for his passion until he became involved with the sustainable building movement, the design, construction and management of energy efficient buildings. This effort began by earning his Ph.D in mechanical engineering from the University of South Florida in 1982. He then joined the staff of the University of Florida’s College of Design, Construction and Planning to teach on the subject. In his role as an educator for more than 30 years, he helped inspire literally hundreds of students and conducted valuable research and writing in his quest to implement more sustainable building principles in construction worldwide.
Charles became known globally for his expertise in sustainable construction and high-performance buildings. He was named the college’s prestigious Holland Professor in the M.E. Rinker School of Construction Management and director of the Powell Center for Construction and Environment. A true pioneer in the movement, he served on the Board of Directors of the Green Building Initiative (a primary global non-profit) from 2006 until his passing and had just been elected its chair. He had been keynote speaker and lectured on sustainable construction in the U.K., Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Brazil, Ireland, South Africa, Lithuania, Finland, Italy, Canada, and the United States.
“His passion for the environment and improving buildings infused every sentence and every effort to which he lent his time and expertise. He will be sorely missed,” said Vicki Worden, CEO of GBI.
Charles also used his giving nature and construction-environmental expertise to assist in returning a landmark building in Gainesville’s African-American community to life. He and his students helped with the Cotton Club restoration, a venue that once hosted the music of James Brown, Ray Charles and B.B. King, among many others.
The following is a quote from a 2019 email from Charles to an A-4 companymate: “At the moment I am having the best time of my life mentoring and teaching really smart Ph.D. students from all over the world. My current crop is from Iran, China, Korea, Brazil, Ghana, Russia, Thailand, and the U.S. I also occasionally teach a really talented group of undergrads and work at what will soon be a top-five public university. It is an exciting place and I look forward every day to spending time here. My family is doing very well, I have three very accomplished daughters, all fabulous in different ways, plus a wife who has gained a lot of expertise in tolerating me.”
Charles is survived by his wife, Patricia Kibert (Wobbe); his children: Charlotte Brackman Kibert and her wife, Elizabeth Brackman Kibert; Nicole Kibert Basler and her husband, Arthur Kibert Basler; and Alina Victoria Kibert; and his granddaughters, Arwen Ann and Margot Josephine Kibert Basler. He is also survived by siblings Leonard Kibert, Stashu Kybartas, and Annette Kibert. His brothers Ronald and William predeceased him and are no doubt delighted to have their big brother with them again.
In the end, we all become stories, and Charles’ life tells a very beautiful one.
— Glenn Porter, Company A-4, Class of 1969