Charles Sunstein (March 23, 2009)

Charles Gerstley Sunstein, 91, of Audubon, a retired investment adviser, died Monday of Alzheimer’s disease at home.Mr. Sunstein graduated from Oak Lane Country Day School. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina, where he managed the wrestling team and was a member of the Zeta Beta Tau fraternity.During World War II, he served in the Army in Europe and in the Pacific.After his discharge, he joined his family’s brokerage firm, Gerstley Sunstein, in Philadelphia. He was partners with his brother, Leon, and cousin, William Gerstley, when the firm merged with Drexel Burnham in the 1970s. He remained with Drexel Burnham until 1989, when he established his own investment consulting firm. He retired in 2000 at 83.Mr. Sunstein served on the boards of Albert Einstein Medical Center, Congregation Rodeph Shalom, the Jewish Community Centers of Greater Philadelphia, and the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia. He enjoyed boating and was a former commodore of the Eastern Shore Yacht Club in Maryland. He collected watches and antique tin toys, and he and his wife, Carolyn Netter Sunstein, collected dollhouses and miniatures. His other interests were travel, golf, dancing, playing cards and following the Eagles and Phillies.In addition to his wife of 67 years and brother, Mr. Sunstein is survived by daughters Florence Begun and Lynn Fox; a son, Chip; a stepbrother and stepsister; seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. A memorial service will be at noon today at Congregation Rodeph Shalom, 615 N. Broad St. Philadelphia.