Charles Kellogg, Former Hubbard-Hall Chairman, Passes

Charles Kellogg, former chairman of chemical supplier Hubbard-Hall, passed on Nov. 20, 2019.

Kellogg was born in Waterbury, Connecticut, in 1931 and lived in the area all his life. A son of Frederic and Lucy Templeton Kellogg, he was the grandson of Connecticut governor Charles Templeton, and his friends say he exhibited kindness, integrity and humility in his service to others throughout his life.

After attending Waterbury elementary public schools, Kellogg went to Westminster School and graduated from Princeton University in 1953. While there, he participated in ROTC and then served in the U.S. Army in Germany as an officer during the Korean War.

Upon earning his master’s degree from Columbia University in 1957, Kellogg joined Hubbard-Hall as a fifth-generation family member of the chemical distribution company which was originally founded as Apothecaries Hall in Waterbury in 1849. Under his long tenure, the company expanded and flourished. His leadership roles included president, CEO, treasurer and, for the last five years, chairman/CFO until his daughter, Molly, became chairman earlier this year.

His family says Kellogg was deeply dedicated to charitable activities and public service. He served on the Governor’s Task Force on Brownfields and on numerous boards of directors, including those of Waterbury Hospital, several regional banks, New Opportunities for Waterbury, and the Waterbury Regional Chamber of Commerce. He chaired the boards of Connecticut Junior Republic, St. Margaret’s-McTernan and the United Way of Greater Waterbury.

Among his many contributions to Waterbury, his family says he was most proud of his participation in the Waterbury Oversight Board in the 2000s. In this capacity, he helped lead the nearly bankrupt city out of receivership and into years of surplus budgets. A prominent local attorney praised Kellogg for his “extraordinary financial and leadership skills,” declaring him “the ultimate ‘reasonable man’” and “one of Waterbury’s greatest civic leaders.”

Kellogg won many awards for his business expertise and volunteer service. He was given the Malcolm Baldrige Community award in 2006 for outstanding service. Two of the most meaningful industry awards were Distributor of the Year from the National Association of Chemical Distributors (1996), of which he was a founding member, and NACD’s Lifetime Achievement Award (2015).

Kellogg is survived by his wife, Martha; and four children, Dana Kellogg of Boston; Molly Kellogg and her husband, John Frantzis, of Newton, Massachusetts; Charlie Kellogg of New Haven, Connecticut; and Zeke Kellogg and his wife, Kina, of Westford, Massachusetts. His seven grandchildren are Chloe, Daphne, Willa and Oliver Frantzis; and Eliott, Emmett and Ginger Kellogg. He is also survived by his sister, Judy Kellogg Rowley, of Southbury; brother Peter Kellogg of Denver; and many nieces and nephews. Especially close to him were his eldest nephew Andrew Skipp, a former executive of Hubbard-Hall, and his ever-caring sister-in-law, Amy Liston, of Portland, Maine.

Kellogg was an athlete with special passions for running and golf. He competed in 10 marathons over his 25-year career, including five in Boston. He played golf into his 80s, with a personal best handicap of eight and a local championship. He was a member of Highfield, the Country Club of Waterbury and the Weekapaug Golf Club.

In lieu of flowers, those who wish to do so may consider a contribution to the United Way of Greater Waterbury or, in the spirit of this wonderful man, ponder these words from a poem by Robert N. Test: “If by chance you wish to remember me, do it with a kind deed or word to someone who needs you.”