Charlene Katherine Kramer

Charlene Katherine Kramer (nee Kahlor) was born on May 9, 1951 in Brooklyn NY, the second of four daughters to Regina and Loyd Kahlor. Even as a child, she was not only the caretaker of the family, but also the one with high ambitions. The first in her family to attend college, she graduated from Binghamton University in 1973. It was during her time there that she met her soul mate and future husband, Roger Kramer.

Charlene was vice president of corporate communications at Fannie Mae, where she was responsible for the company’s national advertising campaign. During her time at Fannie Mae, she helped organize and promote an outreach program to assist low-income and minority families with home ownership, one of the many causes important to her. She retired in 2004.

Her charitable and philanthropic spirit extended far beyond her work life. Charlene and Roger started an endowment at Binghamton University, which has helped dozens of students achieve their dreams of obtaining a college degree. Because of this, and her many other achievements, she was the recipient of an honorary doctorate at Binghamton University in 2003.

She spent the last 13 years traveling around the world with her beloved husband, volunteering, cooking elaborate meals for her friends and family, doing mosaic art projects, relaxing at her homes in Washington, DC, and Rehoboth Beach, and overall enjoying life. She was a caring, loving, generous soul who will be deeply missed by all who had the blessing of knowing her.

She is survived by her loving husband of 43 years, Roger; three sisters: Regina (Tom) Zompanis, Suzanne Celey and Colleen Kahlor; sister-in-law Susan (Tom) Megaro, nine nieces and nephews: Donnie, Donna, Jean Paul, Tara, Jolene, Kerrie, Caitlin, Carlene, and Jeffrey; three godchildren: Jay, Calvin, and William Sullivan; and countless other family members and friends.

The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Charlene Kahlor Kramer '73 and Roger Kramer '72 Scholarship Fund, Binghamton University Foundation, PO Box 6005, Binghamton, NY 13902.