Charles Kastanis was born in Manhattan, NY and lived most of his life in Brooklyn. Charlie was second-born of four brothers; George, Ted and Nick and was the son of Chryssa Charnas and James Kastanis. As a child, he lived next door to cousins on New Utrecht Avenue and met lifelong friends at Rolly's Candy Store.

Charlie was an independent spirit who took great pride in his Greek (Icarian) heritage and good looks.  He was spontaneous, fun, charming, poetic and had a curiosity about all things in life. He experimented with jobs as an usher at the Loews Borough Park movie theater, a bicycle grocery delivery boy, worked at a gyroscope manufacturer, a whale oil company, the 1964-5 World's Fair and more. He graduated from Brooklyn Tech High School and attended classes at the City College of New York before taking his dream job working for the Merchant Marine.  In later years, he sold insurance for Prudential and the Havas Agency.

Charlie never married or had children of his own, but he lived with his youngest brother, Nick for many years in Bay Ridge. He loved sunshine, the beach, and his NY Mets! His love of baseball started at age 12, when he saw Jackie Robinson play in his first Major League Baseball game for the Dodgers. He enjoyed playing the ponies, reading all the newspapers and Kim Novak (contrary to popular belief that he only had eyes for Marilyn Monroe!).

Charlie was a true Renaissance Man. His knowledge of the art and entertainment worlds was extensive and eclectic. His apartment was filled with prints of Van Gogh and Picasso works, and he loved Frank Sinatra and Maria Callas as well as many modern musicians. He loved debating politics and teaching his friends and family Greek phrases. Charlie will be remembered as a man of substance that always gave so much of himself. He will be greatly missed.