Charles Plosser Obituary

Charles Plosser passed away peacefully on Thursday, August 14th, 2025, at the Warner Community Hospice in Amelia Island, Florida. He was 76 years old.

Born in Birmingham, Alabama, Charles graduated from Indian Springs School and then earned a Bachelor of Engineering degree from Vanderbilt University in 1970. He went on to receive both his M.B.A. (1972) and Ph.D. (1976) from the University of Chicago, launching a distinguished career as a macroeconomist.

Charles was best known for influential work on real business cycles and their implications for economic growth. He began his academic career at Stanford University before joining the faculty at the University of Rochester, where he served as the John M. Olin Distinguished Professor of Economics and Public Policy and for 13 years as Dean of the William E. Simon Graduate School of Business Administration. In addition to these roles, Charles spent 20 years as the co-editor of the Journal of Monetary Economics and was a member of the Shadow Open Market Committee, an independent organization of economists that seeks to improve policy discussions, decision-making and economic performance.

In 2006, Charles was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, a position he held until his retirement in 2015. During his tenure, he served as a member of the Federal Open Market Committee where he advocated for systematic monetary policy and greater transparency of Federal Reserve decisions.

Following his position at the Fed, Charles became a Senior Visiting Fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University and rejoined the Shadow Open Market Committee, continuing his research on monetary policy and highlighting the importance of an independent central bank.

Outside of his professional pursuits, Charles enjoyed skiing and tennis - he also had a complicated relationship with golf. He had a deep appreciation for good barbecue and took joy in mastering the techniques behind it. A natural teacher, he loved understanding how things work and sharing that knowledge with others - whether explaining a complex economic concept or fixing something around the house. He and Janet enjoyed traveling together, exploring new places, and attending music and theater performances. A lifelong reader with a curious mind, Charles approached every day as an opportunity to learn something new and inspire those around him.

Charles is survived by his wife of 49 years, Janet; their three children, Matthew, Kevin and Allison; and seven grandchildren. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, mentor and friend to many.

A celebration of Charles' life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Amelia Island Chamber Music Festival or Music in the Mountains (Durango, CO) in his memory.

Please share your memories and condolences at www.oxleyheard.com.

OXLEY-HEARD FUNERAL DIRECTORS