Oral history interview with Skip Vallee
Title
Oral history interview with Skip Vallee
Description
Skip Vallee shares his memories of his son, Charlie Vallee, who died by suicide following a struggle with long COVID. He describes his son's interest in and eventual career in the U.S. intelligence community, including his position at the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA). He also conveys Charlie Vallee's debilitating experience with long COVID and the circumstances in which their family learned of his death. Skip Vallee goes on to talk about how their family channeled their grief into establishing the Charles M. Vallee Foundation and explains the foundation's goals to fund research and spread awareness about long Covid's impact on the brain.
Rodolphe Meaker "Skip" Vallee's son, Charles M. Vallee (1994-2022), was born in Burlington, Vermont, and grew up in South Burlington until his father was named ambassador to Slovakia in 2005 and the Vallee family moved overseas. After returning to the United States, Charles Vallee continued his education at South Burlington High School, the Taft School, and Colgate University. He developed an interest in foreign affairs and security studies and began a successful career in the U.S. intelligence community. His exposure to COVID-19 in 2022 led to long COVID with severely debilitating symptoms that made everyday activities and his life's work nearly impossible. After suffering through four months of long Covid symptoms, he died by suicide on 3 May 2022. His family established the Charles M. Vallee Foundation, which funds research on long Covid's neurological effects and impact on mental health, in his memory.
Sponsored by the Institute of Museum and Library Services MA-251676-OMS-22.
Rodolphe Meaker "Skip" Vallee's son, Charles M. Vallee (1994-2022), was born in Burlington, Vermont, and grew up in South Burlington until his father was named ambassador to Slovakia in 2005 and the Vallee family moved overseas. After returning to the United States, Charles Vallee continued his education at South Burlington High School, the Taft School, and Colgate University. He developed an interest in foreign affairs and security studies and began a successful career in the U.S. intelligence community. His exposure to COVID-19 in 2022 led to long COVID with severely debilitating symptoms that made everyday activities and his life's work nearly impossible. After suffering through four months of long Covid symptoms, he died by suicide on 3 May 2022. His family established the Charles M. Vallee Foundation, which funds research on long Covid's neurological effects and impact on mental health, in his memory.
Sponsored by the Institute of Museum and Library Services MA-251676-OMS-22.
Date
2024-01-04
Subject
Source
Collecting COVID-19: A Vermont Story Project
Identifier
AudioFileCOVID-069
Format
MP3
WAV
Type
Audio file
Rights
Permission to publish material from the Collecting COVID-19: A Vermont Story Project may be obtained from the Vermont Historical Society.
Interviewer
Johnson, Mark
Interviewee
Vallee, Rodolphe M., 1960-
Duration
42 min., 31 sec.
Repository
Vermont Historical Society Library, 60 Washington Street, Barre, VT 05641-4215
Collection
Citation
“Oral history interview with Skip Vallee,” Digital Vermont: A Project of the Vermont Historical Society, accessed April 3, 2025, https://digitalvermont.org/vtcovid/AudioFileCOVID-069.