Charles Cuma was born in Czechoslovakia and emigrated to the United States sometime in 1923. By the early 1940s he was an engineer working for the Chrysler Corporation in Detroit. He was married to Rose A. (Smith) Cuma (28 OCT 1909 to 27 JAN 1968), and per the Detroit Free Press of 16 MAR 1941, lived at 210 W Grixdale in Detroit.
Sometime in the 1940s, Charles Cuma retired. He and his wife relocated to Kissimmee, Florida. In 1949, Charles was asked to come out of retirement and accepted the position of assistant professor of engineering at The University of New Mexico. He and Rose set up life in Albuquerque in a rented home near the University at 766 Montclaire NE. It was here, on Sunday June, 26 that Rose last saw Charles. She had left for church at 8:40 am, and when she returned at 10:10 am, he was gone.
Charles took no bag, coat, or wrap. He had previously expressed doubts about his effectiveness as an instructor to his wife and friends, and this weighed heavily upon him. It was said that his disposition could be called despondent. He apparently left Albuquerque by bus, and travelled overnight to the Grand Canyon. On the morning of June 27, a Ranger at the Grand Canyon would be the last person to see Charles Cuma, as he descended the Bright Angel Trail and into oblivion.
Rangers searched for him to no avail. In the days following, there was a report of a sighting of him in Española, New Mexico. A friend of Charles was dispatched, but the sighting was refuted. Within weeks, Mrs. Cuma petitioned the court for appointment as head of their community to handle their community property, and moved back to Rogers City, Michigan. In October of 1956 she would ask for a death ruling, and one would be granted in January of 1957.
This thread was compiled entirely from stories printed in the Arizona Republic and Albuquerque Journal at the time of Charles Cuma's disappearance. I have no idea if a missing person's report was ever filed, either with authorities in Albuquerque, or the National Park Service.
Sometime in the 1940s, Charles Cuma retired. He and his wife relocated to Kissimmee, Florida. In 1949, Charles was asked to come out of retirement and accepted the position of assistant professor of engineering at The University of New Mexico. He and Rose set up life in Albuquerque in a rented home near the University at 766 Montclaire NE. It was here, on Sunday June, 26 that Rose last saw Charles. She had left for church at 8:40 am, and when she returned at 10:10 am, he was gone.
Charles took no bag, coat, or wrap. He had previously expressed doubts about his effectiveness as an instructor to his wife and friends, and this weighed heavily upon him. It was said that his disposition could be called despondent. He apparently left Albuquerque by bus, and travelled overnight to the Grand Canyon. On the morning of June 27, a Ranger at the Grand Canyon would be the last person to see Charles Cuma, as he descended the Bright Angel Trail and into oblivion.
Rangers searched for him to no avail. In the days following, there was a report of a sighting of him in Española, New Mexico. A friend of Charles was dispatched, but the sighting was refuted. Within weeks, Mrs. Cuma petitioned the court for appointment as head of their community to handle their community property, and moved back to Rogers City, Michigan. In October of 1956 she would ask for a death ruling, and one would be granted in January of 1957.
This thread was compiled entirely from stories printed in the Arizona Republic and Albuquerque Journal at the time of Charles Cuma's disappearance. I have no idea if a missing person's report was ever filed, either with authorities in Albuquerque, or the National Park Service.
