Obituary of Charles F. Gibbs

Charles F. Gibbs

Charles F. Gibbs, 91, passed away on September 21, 2025.

Born in Paterson, NJ, Mr. Gibbs and his wife Anne M. Gibbs raised their four children in Ridgewood and Franklin Lakes before moving to Englewood and later to South Orange.

He earned his bachelor’s degree from Seton Hall University and his law degree from Fordham University.  He served in the U.S Army from 1956-1958 and was a Lieutenant in the U.S Naval Reserves between 1964-1969.  He was admitted to the New York Bar in 1963 and New Jersey Bar in 1975 practicing firstly as an Associate at Davis Polk, and then as a Partner at Breed, Abbott and Morgan, Chadbourne & Parke, and Holland & Knight. In the last decade of his career he was Senior Counsel at Solomon, Blum and Heymann.  He was an Adjunct Professor of wills, trusts and estates at New York Law School and the University of Pennsylvania Law School. He was regarded as one of the nation’s leading trusts and estates attorneys, most notably in trust and estate litigation. He served as Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, Chair of the Committee on Estate Litigation of the New York State Bar Association’s Trusts and Estates Section, and a columnist on Estates, Trusts and Surrogate’s Practice for the New York Law Journal. 

He enjoyed extensive travel, playing golf and tennis for many years with his family and friends at Indian Trail Club, Ridgewood Country Club and PGA West. 

He was predeceased by his beloved wife, Anne M. Schell Gibbs, and his son, Kenneth Gibbs. He is survived by his son, Michael Gibbs and his wife Kerry; his daughters, Christina Gibbs and Jennifer Vinsonhaler and her husband Michael; and his cherished grandchildren, Kendra, Rory, Kelly, Alexa, Caitlin, Breanne, and Ashley. 

Funeral services will be private. A celebration of his life will be held at a later date. 

In lieu of flowers, donations would be appreciated to Wounded Warrior Project and Morristown Medical Center.