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By Pete Reinwald, Jayme Ice, Megan Mowery and Rebecca Sage
Charles E. “Charlie” Rockwood, an emeritus professor at Florida State University and a remarkable benefactor, departed this life on June 26, 2025 – four years subsequent to the groundbreaking passing of his spouse, Persis Rockwood. He was 93.
Charlie Rockwood became a member of the FSU faculty in 1960 and ceased active teaching as an emeritus professor of economics in 1991.
Together with his wife, they generously contributed over $14.2 million in donations to the College of Business, College of Music, and College of Social Sciences and Public Policy.
Their $10 million charitable contribution to the College of Business in 2022 resulted in the formation of the Dr. Persis E. Rockwood School of Marketing, the first U.S. marketing institution dedicated to a woman. Charlie Rockwood revealed this donation a year following Persis’s passing, a former FSU professor emerita who in 2018 was recognized as the first woman inducted into the College of Business’ Charles A. Rovetta Faculty Hall of Fame. She pioneered numerous milestones, including being the first woman at FSU to attain full professorship in marketing back in 1973.
The couple enjoyed a marriage that lasted 54 years.
“The College of Business grieves the loss of Charlie Rockwood, a remarkable ally of our college and university,” expressed Michael Hartline, the college dean. “We will always cherish his exceptional generosity, commitment to FSU, and dedication to his beloved Persis. He ensured that our marketing department would eternally honor her legacy.”
The Rockwoods were pivotal patrons of the arts community in Tallahassee, having also donated $2.25 million to establish the Rockwood Organ at the College of Music. This specially crafted pipe organ, built by the esteemed artisan Paul Fritts, will be incorporated into a future renovation and expansion of the Housewright Music Building. Additionally, the Rockwoods created a named parterre in Ruby Diamond Concert Hall and a $1 million endowment for piano students, an instrument with which Persis Rockwood had a lifelong involvement since childhood.
“Charlie was a passionate concert enthusiast who relished sharing the joy of music with our students, faculty, and audiences,” remarked Todd Queen, dean of the College of Music. “As we warmly reminisce about Charlie’s smile and support, we are thankful for the legacy he and Persis forged here. Their remarkable contributions will ensure the Rockwood name endures for generations.”
Tim Chapin, Dean of the College of Social Sciences and Public Policy, conveyed his sorrow regarding Charlie Rockwood’s passing while also appreciating the Rockwoods’ contributions, which included the formation of the Drs. Charles and Persis Rockwood Graduate Fellowship Endowment Fund.
“Charlie Rockwood was a cherished mentor and intellectual figure throughout his extensive career in the Department of Economics, as well as a significant figure in the wider Tallahassee community via the Rotary Club,” noted Chapin. “Charlie’s humor, sparkling eyes, and generous spirit were evident to all, especially when the conversation turned to Persis. The influence of Charlie and Persis at FSU is profound – first as long-serving, effective faculty members and then as tremendous supporters of the university they adored.”
At a 2022 event in the College of Business, Charlie Rockwood joined Hartline to unveil the $10 million contribution that established the Rockwood School of Marketing. In his remarks, Rockwood entirely focused on his wife, who taught in the college for thirty years beginning in 1960.
“She had a deep affection for FSU,” he remarked about Persis. “She was exceptionally humble. I don’t think she ever shared her background with students. Instead, she would inquire, ‘What is your aspiration beyond your work ethic? What goals do you harbor for your life?’”
The Rockwoods’ contribution also comprised a $3.5 million endowment for faculty support, including funding for an eminent scholar chair, professorships, emerging scholars, and research; a $3 million endowment for student assistance, including scholarships and professional development; and a $2.5 million endowment for “preeminence,” which provides discretionary funds for the most urgent needs of the Rockwood School.
Their charitable contribution further included $1 million allocated for Legacy Hall, the college’s upcoming home, which is set to welcome classes in January 2026. This segment of the donation funded the Dr. Persis Rockwood Academic Programs Suite and the Dr. Persis Rockwood Academic and Behavioral Research Lab.
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