Jack Chait

Jack CHAIT Jack Chait passed away on April 21st, 2011 having lived every moment of his 92 years to the full. His intelligence, enthusiasm and zest for life remained with him right to the end. Jack was born to Lithuanian Jewish immigrants, Abraham and Anne Chait, in 1918, in Bredasdorp, South Africa. He and his four siblings, David, Lulu, Harry, and Liebe, grew up together in the hotels their parents owned and ran. Since there were few Jews in Bredasdorp, when it came time to prepare for his Bar Mitzvah, Jack was sent to live with a Rabbi's family in Robertson, where he stayed until he graduated from high school. Jack attended medical school at the University of Cape Town, and it was there he met his future wife, Thelma Daitsh. After he graduated as a doctor in 1941, he and Thelma married and he set up practice in Cape Town as a family doctor. It was a solo practice and his life grew extremely busy, especially since in those days doctors did night calls. Jack became a highly respected general practitioner and was elected to head the South African Medical Association. He and Thelma had three sons, Alan, Gordon, and Brian, of whom Jack was very proud. As busy as he was between work and family, Jack pursued numerous hobbies. He was an excellent photographer, a wine buff, a classical music enthusiast, an avid stamp collector, and a wonderful cook. By the time he retired at the age of 70, his sons and their families were all living in the States, so he and Thelma packed up everything and moved to Madison Park, Seattle, to be near them. Jack loved a challenge and in no time he and Thelma had settled in their new country and were living active social lives - going to classical concerts, participating in the Anthony Trollope Book Club, and enjoying their numerous grandchildren. He was preceded in death by Thelma and grandson Paul. Jack will be dearly missed by Alan (Sandra), Gordon (Nancy), Brian (Jos); his grandchildren, Trevor (Cristy), Mark (Angie), Remy (Anna), Michael (Tracy), Greg (Laura), Halsey (Adrienne); and his great-grandchildren, Mady, Bode, Jack, Etta, Teyo, Dorothy, Tovi, and Charlotte.