Longtime United
exec dies

Chuck Novak headed public relations
offices in Hawaii and Chicago

By Russ Lynch
Star-Bulletin

R. Charles "Chuck" Novak, who spent 10 years as United Airlines spokesman in Hawaii and went on to become head of the airline's corporate public relations at its Chicago headquarters, died of natural causes Tuesday night.

Novak, who was believed to be 68, was found by friends at his Hawaii Kai home yesterday after he missed an appointment to meet them at Honolulu Airport.

Novak, a former newspaper sports reporter, came to Hawaii in 1960, after representing United in Los Angeles for four years. He helped introduce islanders to the jet age in the 1960s and was transferred to Los Angeles at the beginning of 1971.

In the early 1980s Novak moved into the airline's top public relations spot. He also worked as regional public relations director in New York. He maintained strong ties with Hawaii even after taking early retirement in 1987. Novak moved here with his wife Shirlee in 1993. Shirlee died in 1996.

Novak kept up strong contacts with United and worked each year at the United Airlines Hawaiian Open golf tournament, keeping scores. He also played an unofficial role in United's press relations after his retirement, helping out with events such as the 1997 celebration of the airline's 50th anniversary of serving Hawaii.

He wrote free-lance articles about Hawaii travel and made anonymous stays in luxury hotels to monitor their service for a management consulting business.

Alan Wayne, United regional director of public affairs based in Los Angeles, described Novak as "a total professional" who remained strongly loyal to the airline after he left.

In fact, Wayne said, Novak came back for a six-month stint to help out about a year after he left.

Wayne said he knew Novak for more than 30 years and stayed in touch after Novak retired. "He was always a delight, a wonderful story teller," Wayne said.

Novak was a graduate of the University of Southern California and served with the Army Corps of Engineers in Germany in 1954.

Funeral arrangements are pending.