Charles Barbo

Charles "Chuck" Kirby Barbo Obituary

With deep sadness, we announce the passing of Charles Kirby Barbo, "Chuck", on August 6, 2025 in Seattle, Washington.Chuck was born on April 18, 1941 in Everett, Washington, and grew up in Seattle with his parents, Carl and Jessie Barbo, and sister Katherine Barbo Johnson. A graduate of Roosevelt High School in 1959, Chuck demonstrated leadership qualities early, and was elected Senior Class President. He went on to graduate from the University of Washington with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History in 1963. At UW, he was elected Secretary, and later President, of the Association of Men Students, and was a member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity. Chuck met the love of his life, Linda, at the UW, and they were married in 1963.Chuck discovered he had a talent for, and interest in, business and real estate development. He co-founded Shurgard Storage Centers, Inc. in 1972. Under his leadership, Shurgard owned and operated a portfolio of more than 650 properties across the United States and Europe. 

In 1985, he graduated from the Owner/President Program at the Harvard Business School. Shurgard became a publicly traded REIT on the New York Stock Exchange in May of 1995. In 2006, Chuck retired as Shurgard's Chairman following a merger of Shurgard with Public Storage, Inc. Chuck then co-founded, and was a partner in, the venture capital firm, Catalyst Storage Partners. Catalyst specializes in investments in the domestic self storage real estate sector. In addition, throughout his career, Chuck provided property management services for self-service storage facilities and other real estate and commercial ventures.

Chuck was an alumnus of the Young Presidents Organization and a member of YPO Gold. He served on the Board of Regents of St. Martin's College and was a member of the Board of Directors of Matthew G. Norton Company. He served for many years as a member of the Board of the University of Washington Foundation and of the Foster School of Business Advisory Board, where he held the role of Chairman for two years. Chuck was a board member of the Discovery Institute. Chuck was a recipient of the Ernst & Young Pacific Northwest Entrepreneur of the Year Award and the Foster School of Business Distinguished Leadership Award. He was a member of the Junior Achievement Puget Sound Business Hall of Fame and the national Self Storage Hall of Fame.Chuck was a member of the Seattle Yacht Club, the Seattle Tennis Club, Broadmoor Golf Club and the Nanea Golf Club on the Big Island of Hawaii. 

One of Chuck's favorite activities was sailing and boating in Puget Sound; in the 80's with his family on their sailboat, Magic, and then over the past 25 years on his beloved Blue Peter, a historic wooden yacht built in 1928 in the Lake Union Dry Dock. He was a loyal Husky sports fan, holding season football tickets for more than 60 years. The piece of the 1960 Rose Bowl goalpost he and his friends brought back to Seattle was prominently displayed each season. He loved fishing, playing golf, traveling the world with Linda and family, spending time with grandkids and taking 5-mile daily walks. Chuck was an avid reader of everything from history, fiction to quantum physics, very often sending copies of favorites to those who he thought would enjoy it and discussing it with him in the future. 

Through and through Chuck was a teacher; a leader; a curious, loyal, and loving person who will be dearly missed.Chuck is survived by his wife of 62 years, Linda Knutzen Barbo; daughters Julie Barbo, Sarah Staiger and Anne Moon; sons in law David Staiger and Justin Moon; and grandchildren Will Howie, Tom Maghie, Walker Maghie, Campbell Maghie, Allie Staiger, Kevin Staiger, Charlie Moon, August Moon, and Eloise Moon.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Chuck's name to the University of Washington Foster School of Business, Center for Wooden Boats or the Discovery Institute.Giving to Washington Foster School of Business https://foster.uw.edu/give-to-foster/Giving to Center for Wooden Boats https://www.cwb.org/giveGiving to Discovery Institute https://www.discovery.org/id/donate/  

Please share memories & photos on the Guestbook, located below.  

Arrangements Entrusted to Emmick Family Funeral Home ~ Lake View - Seattle, Washington