Charles E. Shorday Sr., a supermarket entrepreneur and philanthropist who lived in Abington, passed away on Wednesday, November 29, writes Gary Miles for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

He ran 23 stores for over 50 years and was a generous benefactor to many community organizations.

“He believed it was necessary to give back,” his son said.

Shorday, 92, was born in Doylestown and grew up in Hatboro and Warminster. In 1951 he bought his stepfather’s small grocery store in Warminster and that began his longtime supermarket business.

By the time he retired in 2002, he had operated 23 stores in Philadelphia, Bucks, Montgomery, and Delaware Counties.

His stores were known as Foodtown, Great Scot, Town and Country, Thriftway, and Shop ’n Bag, but his favorite store was Shorday’s in Abington.

Shorday was very active in supporting local nonprofit organizations like the Willow Grove YMCA and the Abington Library. His contributions to Abington Hospital were recognized by the naming of the Shorday Center for Advanced Gastrointestinal Surgery.

“He believed in second chances, in providing opportunities for others, and in paying it forward,” his family said.

Read more about the contributions of Charles E. Shorday Sr. in The Philadelphia Inquirer.