Charles L. "Chuck" Short, who joined Montgomery County government in 1973 as a youth coordinator and went on to serve every county executive since the office was created, has died. His career in county government and community service spanned more than 50 years.

County Executive Marc Elrich and Council President Natali Fani-González issued separate statements on Short's passing Friday, Sept. 18. No cause of death or age was disclosed.

Short was appointed director of the Department of Human Resources in 1983 by County Executive Charles Gilchrist. Three successive county executives reappointed him: Sidney Kramer, Neal Potter and Doug Duncan.

Under Duncan, Short helped merge four separate departments into a single Department of Health and Human Services. He became the combined agency's first director and led it for seven years, according to a statement from Elrich's office.

Elrich noted that Short, as the father of an adult son with disabilities, brought a personal understanding to his work in human services.

Short retired from county government in 2002. He then served as Secretary for Justice and Service for the Archdiocese of Washington until 2006.

He did not stay away long.

In September 2006, Short joined County Executive-elect Ike Leggett's transition team. By December of that year, Leggett appointed him a special assistant, The MoCo Show reported.

Short also served as a senior advisor to Montgomery County Public Schools and a senior fellow to the Montgomery County Council. He taught as an adjunct professor at the University of Maryland School of Public Policy starting in 1996 and was a fellow at the university's Institute for Excellence in Government Service.

In 2022, Short was inducted into the Montgomery County Human Rights Hall of Fame. The county recognized his 50 years of work leading local government, nonprofit and faith-based programs, according to a statement from Fani-González's office.

Fani-González said Short's mentorship guided generations of government and nonprofit leaders, crediting his commitment to improving health outcomes for children, youth and families.

Short sat on the boards of several nonprofits, including the Ivymount School, Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless, Potomac Community Resources, St. Ann's Infant Home, the Little Sisters of the Poor Senior Home and the Nonprofit Village.

He earned his undergraduate degree from Georgetown University and a master's degree from The Catholic University of America. He was a graduate of Leadership Montgomery.

Short lived in Rockville with his wife, Maureen. He is survived by three children and two grandchildren, all living in Rockville, according to his county staff profile.