Charles J. Soderquist, an energetic philanthropist, conservationist and entrepreneur who championed causes ranging from restoration of Sacramento's Crest Theater to UC Davis research at Lake Tahoe, died March 2 from complications related to a brain hemorrhage. He was 57.

Soderquist's passion, leadership and support was extended throughout the Delta region he so loved, as he made a personal commitment to the business and investment communities, education, art, literature, the environment, science and technology.

"It's hard to encapsulate everything that my dad was," said his son, Chris Soderquist of Sacramento. "He had this rich thirst for living, loving, learning and leading. He touched so many people in so many ways, shown through his personal mantra: To empower individuals and organizations to make differences I cannot."

"Charley was both a visionary and a by-the-numbers planner who could make things happen," said his friend Jack Hicks, a UC Davis faculty member who met Soderquist through a campus writing program. "He was an absolute original. He attacked noble causes with great appetite. But while he traveled often in circles of power and wealth, he truly delighted in all people and, in particular, his family."

Armed with a UC Davis doctorate degree in environmental chemistry, Charley Soderquist was an entrepreneur who founded and led several dozen companies including his first, California Analytical Laboratories, which did environmental consulting and testing and grew into a multi-million dollar business. "His attitude about it was epitomized in his license plate, BMF LAB," his son Chris recalled.

In 1990, Soderquist founded the Technology Development Center in West Sacramento and used the investment business to provide seed money to jump-start high-tech companies in the area.

Soderquist's far-ranging interests were reflected in the numerous organizations where he served as a trustee, including KVIE public television, Audubon California, the California Historical Society, and numerous private corporate boards including Lipomics Technologies Inc. and Hayes Medical.

An ardent supporter of his alma mater, the University of California, Davis, Soderquist had been serving as the chair of the UC Davis Foundation at the time of his death. He also was a member of the UC Davis Connect board as a liaison with the business community, a past president of the Cal Aggie Alumni Association and served as an alumni representative to the UC Board of Regents.

"Charley decided over a decade ago that he was going to add UC Davis to his 'causes.' He went at it analytically, like the good businessman that he was, learning through service," said UC Davis Chancellor Larry N. Vanderhoef. "We laughed many times together about what he one time called the 'blundering, boggling, bungling' policies and academic traditions of the university to which he was giving hundreds of thousands of dollars. One thing was certain, though -- through it all he had proud, grateful, fond feelings for the faculty, the history and the hopeful intentions of UC Davis. He was generous with his time and money and he wanted to help. That, finally, was what Charley was -- a caring man who wanted to help. I can't quite imagine our campus without him."

Soderquist lived on (and sometimes in) the Sacramento River and had deep affection for the Delta region -- both its people and the natural environment. He wrote a book, "Sturgeon Tales," an eclectic collection of short stories about life and times throughout the area. He took great delight in a research project undertaken by his wife, Jan Goggans, to collect oral histories of long-time Delta residents in an effort to capture the essence of a Delta past he worried was vanishing.

Soderquist had a large collection of books on California and the Sacramento region, ranging from poetry to natural history. He loved the company and the work of the many writers, including among his close friends Pulitzer-prize winning poet Gary Snyder. He sponsored a new speaker series at UC Davis to bring authors to campus and was thrilled to sponsor the visit of nonfiction writer John McPhee last fall.

Soderquist also embraced the future promise of science and technology, and worked to transfer discoveries from the university to the private sector.

"He pushed, dragged, cajoled a lot of us to get very involved in conservation issues in the Central Valley," said a close friend, UC Davis geologist Jeff Mount. "He did a masterful job of helping us bridge the science we were doing on campus and challenged us to be good translators and get out there and get involved so others could understand it."

"He also was always wanting to blow up the ivory tower. He never let us take ourselves too seriously as scientists. He was a cheerleader for engagement of the university in the outside world," Mount said. "We're really going to miss him."

Soderquist was born Jan. 9, 1947, in San Carlos. He earned his bachelor's degree at San Francisco State University, a master's degree from UC Davis in 1973 and then his doctorate degree in 1978.

He is survived by his wife of four months, Jan, and her daughter Ellen; his son Chris; daughter Jessica Giannini of Portland; brother John of Twain Harte; and four grandchildren: Scott, Olivia, Ty and Henry.

"My dad was many things to many people, but, above all else, he cherished being 'Pa Pa,' a four-time grandparent," said his daughter, Jessica Giannini. "His personal and professional commitments never conflicted with his love for family. Every Sunday, like clockwork, he and his grandson, Scott, would feed ducks at the UC Davis Arboretum, and he never missed a trip to visit granddaughter Olivia in Portland."

"There was never a time I didn't realize how lucky I was to live with him. It was the most extraordinary life. People would be animated after just one hour with him. I got 24 hours with him," his wife said. "What a dream to live with someone that magical. Everyone who came near him felt that."

The family has requested that donations be made in Soderquist's memory to the Sacramento Valley Conservancy, the Yolo Basin Foundation and Audubon California. Initial services will be private, and a university tribute to be held at UC Davis at a later date.