Charlie Buttons
{{Short description|American Jewish community figure (1944–2025)}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Charlie Buttons
| image = Charlie Buttons at a wedding.jpg
| caption = Charlie Buttons distributes balloons at a wedding in Crown Heights
| birth_name = Charles Nassofer
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1944|7|9}}
| birth_place = Kearney, Nebraska, U.S.
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2025|5|8|1944|7|9}}
| death_place = Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
| known_for = Community presence in Crown Heights and Lincoln Square Synagogue
}}
Charles Nassofer (July 9, 1944 – May 8, 2025), known as Charlie Buttons, was an American Jewish community figure known for his presence at Chabad events in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, and at Lincoln Square Synagogue in Manhattan. A regular at 770 Eastern Parkway, he was recognized for his warm interactions with the Lubavitcher Rebbe. He became widely known for attending simchas, distributing balloons, and wearing a button-covered yarmulke that earned him his nickname.{{cite news |last1=Wilhelm |first1=Motti |title=Charlie "Buttons" Nassofer, 80, Brought Joy to the Rebbe, and Generations of Children and Adults |url=https://www.chabad.org/news/article_cdo/aid/6895826/jewish/Charlie-Buttons-Nassofer-80-Brought-Joy-to-the-Rebbe-and-Generations-of-Children-and-Adults.htm |access-date=14 May 2025 |publisher=Chabad.org News |date=14 May 2025}}
Early life
Charles Nassofer was born on July 9, 1944, in Kearney, Nebraska, to Irving and Marcia Nassofer.{{cite news |title=Rabbi Katz Officiates at Christening Ceremony |publisher=Kearney Hub |date=18 July 1944}}
The family later moved to Brooklyn, New York, where he attended public school and Hebrew school at Congregation Beth Judah. He graduated from Brooklyn Technical High School and enrolled in college but did not complete his degree.
In 1964, during a visit to Florida, Charlie and his sister were involved in a car accident that left him with brain damage.{{cite news |title=New York Man Seriously Hurt in Auto Wreck |work=Fort Myers News-Press |date=15 June 1964}}
Community role
In the 1970s, Nassofer became involved with the Chabad-Lubavitch movement after meeting a representative from the Lubavitch Youth Organization. He began spending time at Chabad headquarters at 770 Eastern Parkway and participated in outreach activities. Charlie became a fixture at 770 Eastern Parkway.{{cite news |title=Crown Heights Icon ‘Charlie Buttons’ Celebrates 80th Birthday |url=https://anash.org/crown-heights-icon-charlie-buttons-celebrates-80th-birthday/ |access-date=14 May 2025 |publisher=Anash.org |date=25 July 2024}}
He was widely recognized for his frequent interactions with the Lubavitcher Rebbe, who would often smile and encourage him with a wave or gesture. Charlie became a regular attendee at celebrations across Crown Heights, bringing balloons to distribute to children. He also attended weddings, engagement parties, brises, and shalom zachars. He was often seen wearing a distinctive yarmulke covered in Jewish-themed buttons, including slogans promoting mitzvot and insignia from Tzivos Hashem.{{cite news |title=BD"E: Petirah of Beloved Crown Heights Fixture "Charlie Buttons" Nassofer Z"L |url=https://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/general/2396980/bde-petirah-of-beloved-crown-heights-fixture-charlie-buttons-nassofer-zl.html |access-date=14 May 2025 |publisher=The Yeshiva World |date=8 May 2025}}
He had frequent encounters with the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson. On several occasions, he received wine from the Rebbe during the distribution of kos shel brachah. He was known to carry multiple cups and would explain that they represented concepts from Chabad philosophy.
Involvement with Lincoln Square Synagogue
In addition to his presence in Crown Heights, Nassofer had a longstanding connection with Lincoln Square Synagogue in Manhattan.{{Cite web
|title=Meet Charlie "Buttons."
|website = Facebook
|url = https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=285297611544346
|author =Humans of New York
|date = 3 April 2012
|access-date = 14 May 2025
}}
During the 1970s and 1980s, he was active in the synagogue's educational and outreach programs, particularly the Beginner's Service led by Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald. He also participated in Purim plays and helped with various tasks including mailings.
Nassofer was trained by Rabbi Buchwald to kosher kitchens and provided this service across a range of homes in the New York area.
Personality and sayings
Nassofer was known for his dry humor and playful calendar inventions, such as referring to days in Tevet as "the 23rd day of Chanukah" and declaring the days between his Hebrew and secular birthdays as "chol hamoed Charlie." When asked if he was Elijah the Prophet, he once responded that he couldn't be due to being a chronic latecomer.{{cite web |last1=הוצמן |first1=תמי |title=The Man With the Balloons: Charlie in His Element |url=https://col.org.il/news/27633 |publisher=COL |access-date=14 May 2025}}
Later life and death
Nassofer later moved into a private home in Crown Heights and eventually into a Jewish nursing facility in Brooklyn due to declining health. He died on May 8, 2025, at the age of 80.{{cite news |title=Charlie Nassover, 80, OBM |url=https://collive.com/charlie-nassofer-80-obm/ |access-date=14 May 2025 |publisher=COLlive |date=8 May 2025}}
References
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