Charles Donald Fegert: The Life of the Chicago Ad Executive

Despite the fact that Charles Donald Fegert is mostly known for his famous marriage to Hollywood star Barbara Eden, his life is much more complicated than that. Fegert went from being poor on the South Side to becoming a giant in the newspaper business. He is now a major force in Chicago’s media scene.

His life is an interesting look into the golden age of print advertising, how hard it is to deal with fame, and how much drive it takes to move up in a company.

The Chicago Sun-Times will always remember Charles Fegert as a man of sharp business sense, a father, and a figure who made news and walked the red carpet. This biography looks at the man behind the name, looking at both his professional and personal life to show the full scope of his impact.

Early Life and Education on the South Side

Charles Donald Fegert, whose birthday was November 8, 1930, was born into Chicago’s working-class grit. He was known as “Chuck” by his friends and coworkers.

His childhood on the city’s South Side as the son of a steelworker taught him a strong work ethic and how important it is to keep going even when things get hard.

He learned how to get along with other people at South Shore High School, which would later become important to his work. Fegert didn’t go straight into the business world after high school.

Like his father, he joined the Coast Guard and worked for a short time in steel mills. These things helped him stay grounded and gave him a real-world view that would later help him connect with many different types of people in the business world.

Fegert, on the other hand, had goals that went beyond the mills. Charles Donald Fegert decided to go to Loyola University Chicago, which would change the course of his life.

He improved his mind and business sense at Loyola, where he earned a degree in Business Administration in 1955. He was ready for the tough world of media that lay ahead thanks to this schooling.

Rising Through the Ranks at the Chicago Sun-Times

Charles Donald Fegert career in the media began in the 1950s. He started out at the Chicago Sun-Times as an advertising salesman, which needed him to be persistent, charming, and able to deal with being turned down.

Right away, it was clear that Fegert was naturally good at the job. He sold more than just ad space. He sold ties and results as well.

From Salesman to Vice President

Fegert’s rise was very fast. He was admired by both his coworkers and his rivals for “management by charisma.” He was known for always looking great, being sure of himself, and being able to speak to anyone without raising his voice.

By 1969, it was clear that he was an expert in retail advertising. This led to a string of promotions that put him at the top of the newspaper’s leadership.

He got the important job of Vice President of Advertising and Marketing for the Chicago Sun-Times and the Chicago Daily News in the end. In this role, Fegert was in charge of making money during a very competitive time for print news.

Charles Donald Fegert came up with creative ways to market that not only brought in big sponsors but also helped bring the newspaper business up to date in terms of how it dealt with customers.

A Master of Ceremonies

Fegert had an impact outside of the office. His name became well-known in Chicago’s social scene, and he was often the host of dinners and charity events.

Because he was funny and could keep people interested, people wanted to hear him talk, which made him an even more important figure in the city.

Besides being successful in the media, he was also a smart businessman who owned restaurants and bars. This showed that he had an entrepreneurial spirit that matched his success in business.

The Marriage to Barbara Eden

In 1974, Charles Fegert’s life became more like the movies. Barb Eden, who played Jeannie on the hit sitcom I Dream of Jeannie, was acting in Chicago when the two crossed paths.

A Courtship of Flowers

I can see how this meeting could happen in a romance book. Charles Donald Fegert was deeply interested in Eden and kept pursuing her with his charm. In a famous move, he sent her flowers twice a day, in the morning and at night.

Each bunch came with a simple card stamped with the letter “C.” He later told her that she was his “fantasy dream girl,” even though he said he had never seen her popular show.

At that time, Eden was getting used to being a single mom after her split from actor Michael Ansara. Fegert’s attention and security made her feel better. He was tall, good-looking, and successful, which was very different from the Hollywood types she was used to seeing.

Life in the Spotlight

The wedding took place on September 3, 1977, and brought together Chicago’s business elite and Hollywood stars. They had a lot of power for a while. Their home was a fancy building on Chicago’s Magnificent Mile that had a view of Lake Michigan.

But there were big problems in the marriage. Eden moved to Chicago, but her son Matthew stayed with his father in Los Angeles, which was very hard on her. Also, the stresses of their jobs and personal lives started to weaken the basis of their relationship.

Eden’s autobiography, Jeannie Out of the Bottle, says that things changed over time. She talked about how hard it was for her to deal with Charles Donald Fegert growing drinking and controlling behavior.

The fairy tale romance didn’t last, and after five years of marriage, the pair got a divorce in 1982. Even though the end was sad, Eden often talked about how great Fegert was as a salesman and how charming he was at first.

Family Life and Personal Struggles

The public was interested in Fegert’s marriage to a TV star, but he had a full personal life before he met the star. His three kids were a daughter named Lisa and two sons named Michael and Chip. He had been married twice before he met Eden.

From what his family has said, Fegert was a loving dad and grandpa. Lisa, his daughter, remembered him as a fun dad who liked to sing and do impressions.

Charles Donald Fegert loved teaching his seven grandkids songs and spending time with them when he wasn’t working at the Chicago Sun-Times, which was a very stressful job.

He had some hard times in his life. The same focus that helped him do well at work also caused him problems in his personal life. In the years after his public divorce, he stayed out of the public eye and lived a quieter life that let him focus on his family and private coaching work.

Legacy and Impact

It was peaceful for Charles Donald Fegert to die in his sleep on September 25, 2002. He was 71 years old.
He left behind two things. Most people still think of him as the good-looking Chicago executive who swept “Jeannie” off her feet.

But people who work in the media in Chicago remember him as a leader. He helped a big city newspaper through decades of change and came up with new ways to advertise that are now commonplace.

Charles Donald Fegert showed that with charm, smarts, and hard work, anyone could go from working in steel plants on the South Side to living in a penthouse on the Gold Coast. His story shows how lively Chicago was in the 20th century—a city of big shoulders, big business, and even bigger people.

Conclusion

Charles Donald Fegert was a man with many sides. He was the son of a steelworker, a graduate of Loyola, a powerful advertising executive, and the husband of a Hollywood star.

The most famous thing about him was his marriage to Barbara Eden, but what really made him famous were his accomplishments at work and his love for his family.

He represents a certain time in American history when hard work and charm could get you anywhere.

Fegert is still an important figure in the history of Chicago media. He shows that the people who work behind the scenes are often just as interesting as the stars on the screen.

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